FRIDAY 20TH MAY 2022

FG: $60bn Needed to Aid Access to Reliable Electricity, Clean Cooking Facilities in Eight Years Says PIA capable of provoking, triggering commercial interests, investments in gas utilisation Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government yesterday stated that Sub-Saharan Africa could

require as much as $60 billion to access reliable electricity and clean cooking facilities between now and 2030.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who disclosed this, noted that an annual investment of around

$35 billion could bring electricity access to 759 million Africans who currently lack it.

Speaking at the annual

Symposium and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), in Lagos, Sylva added that another $25 billion a year could

help 2.6 billion people globally to access clean cooking by 2030.

Continued on page 5

Deborah: I’m Disappointed That People Still Kill in the Name of God, Says Archbishop of Canterbury... Page 5 Friday 20 May, 2022 Vol 27. No 9901. Price: N250

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US Ranked World's Most Secretive Financial Jurisdiction for Illegal Money... Page 10

N'Assembly Pressures Buhari to Sign Act that Changes Rules in Middle of Game Analysts say proposed legislation will be for personal benefit of legislators Supreme Court joins Rivers on clause 84 (12) Chuks Okocha, Alex Enumah and Udora Orizu in Abuja Members of the National Assembly have started mounting pressure

on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the amended Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, which some analysts have said would amount to altering rules of the

electoral process in the middle of the game.

This is coming at a time the Supreme Court has joined the Rivers State government in a

suit seeking its interpretation of the controversial Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

However, analysts also expressed concern that if the president yields

to the pressure of the lawmakers and assents to the amended section of the Act, it might affect the timetable for the 2023 general elections that had been released by

the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) because under the electoral body’s schedule of Continued on page 5

Obasanjo: Nigeria’s Inability to Contain Insecurity a Choice by Her Leaders Says current period unlike any other in country’s history Terrorists killed 360, abducted 1,389 in three months in Kaduna, report indicates What’s happening in North-west far more serious, potentially more dangerous than we’ve ever had in North-east, El-Rufai declares Explains insecurity high in his state because terrorists find its forests comfortable James Sowole in Abeokuta and John Shiklam in Kaduna Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said Nigeria’s inability to meet its security challenges was a choice by the country’s leaders and not by God’s design.

Obasanjo declared that the country was going through a more difficult time than any other period in its political history. He said he had no apology for having “mad passion” for Nigeria, "because I have no other country I can call my own and I have no other country I can go to and say, yes, I have come to live here."

The former president’s comments came as a report recently presented by the Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Continued on page 5

AT THE 8TH AFRICA MAGIC VIEWERS' CHOICE AWARDS...

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), Kamil Olufowobi; Global Director of Content, MIPAD, Toyosi Etim-Effiong; Hollywood Actress, Tasha Smith; Hollywood Producers, Sidra Smith and Grant Housley; Chief Executive Officer, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe; United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard; and Executive Head, Content and West Africa Channels, Busola Tejumola during a visit to the US Consulate in Lagos as part of activities for the recently concluded 8th Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards

Alleged Failure in Protecting Judiciary: NBA Replies Wike, Says Remark Inconsiderate, Uncharitable... Page 41

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Deborah: I’m Disappointed That People Still Kill in Name of God, Says Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby has joined the growing number of individuals and groups that have condemned last Thursday’s brutal murder of Miss Deborah Yakubu, a young Christian 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto by some of her school mates over alleged blasphemy, saying he was disappointed and grieved that such violence still takes place in the name of God. He described the act as a sin against God. Welby, who is the Senior Bishop and Principal Leader of the Church of England and the head of the Anglican Communion worldwide, condemned the violent murder of the late Deborah in a series of tweets late Wednesday.

He, therefore, called on the Nigerian government to ensure that religious rights are protected.

Welby stated, "I strongly condemn the appalling stoning to death of a Christian woman in Sokoto, Nigeria. This violence is a sin against God. I pray for the family and loved ones of Deborah Samuel, and I continue to pray fervently for the nation of Nigeria.

"I have spent much time in northern Nigeria working with others in pursuit of reconciliation and interfaith dialogue. I am profoundly disappointed and grieved that such violence still takes place in God’s name.

"I'm grateful for those Nigerian Muslim leaders that have condemned this atrocity. I call for renewed efforts by the Nigerian Government to ensure liberty and equality under the law - whether for Christians or Muslims - which was so tragically absent in this case.

I urged people to pray for interfaith dialogue, reconciliation and peace

in Nigeria.”

A legal team of 34 lawyers, led by a law lecturer at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Professor Mansur Ibrahim, had on Monday appeared in defence of two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu

and Aminu Hukunci, arraigned over the murder of Deborah.

Groups and individuals have continued to react to Deborah’s killing and have urged the Sokoto State government to ensure that justice was done.

The leadership of the umbrella body for lawyers in the country, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) recently called on the Government of Sokoto State to demonstrate seriousness and willingness in its prosecution of

alleged culprits in the murder of a young Christian student in the state by ensuring that charges preferred against the defendants were true reflection of the gravity of the offense of murder.

Also, the African Bar Association

(AFBA), in a statement signed by its President, Hannibal Uwaifo, had stated that it was completely taken aback by the fanatical support given to the callous action by top religious leaders, highly placed government officials and even lawyers.

N'ASSEMBLY PRESSURES BUHARI TO SIGN ACT THAT CHANGES RULES IN MIDDLE OF GAME activities, elections for delegates ought to taken place this weekend.

More so, some analysts pointed out that what members of the National Assembly did was that they amended the Act for their own personal gains.

“Essentially, once they passed the Electoral Act, INEC released the timetable and the process started.

They now went back and changed the rules when the game has already started,” the source added.

The federal legislature, had last week amended Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act to enable some categories of non-elected offices within the executive officers of the 18 registered political parties vote at the various categories of party executives, including the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy governors, at the congresses and national convention expected from Saturday.

In view of this, the 18 registered political parties have not been able to present their delegates lists, because the President has yet to assent the amended act.

The implication is that only the statutory delegates and the elected three man-delegate as well as local governments’ delegates could vote at the congresses expected to commence Saturday.

In the PDP, for instance, a source said the delegates list was not ready, because the NWC was waiting for the signing of the amended section

84 (12) to enable the party compile a list of the executives from the wards to the states congresses.

Specifically, Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, initially allowed only elected delegates of a party to participate in conventions and congresses. But the National Assembly, last week, amended the Electoral Act to allow statutory delegate participate and vote in party conventions, congresses, and meetings.

However, in his argument, the Deputy Senate President Omo-Agege, said the amendment sought to make provision for those who would not be elected as ad-hoc delegates to participate in the conventions, congresses, or meetings of political parties.

He further asserted that the initial section of the Bill was an error on the part of the legislature.

Corroborating Omo-Agege’s presentation, Senator Uche Ekwunife, said the amendment was a straightforward one, adding that, “without this amendment, most of us will not have the liberty of voting during the convention. I support the amendment. Let us have it for second reading.”

Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said, “This Bill is a very straightforward Bill, and let us put in on record that this error was something that happened inadvertently. We have seen the error and that is why we are back here to ensure nobody

suffers any harm.”

The Bill was read the second time and referred to the Committee of the Whole where it was passed.

THISDAY, however, gathered that if by the end of Friday, the bill was not signed into law by President Buhari, then, executives of the 18 political parties would not be allowed to vote at the presidential conventions, National Assembly congresses, governorship congresses and other congresses to elect the standard bearers of their candidates.

S’Court Joins Rivers in Case over Section 84 of Electoral Act Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, yesterday, joined the Rivers State government in a suit seeking its interpretation of the controversial Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The apex court joined the state after its application for joinder was not opposed by other plaintiffs in the suit filed by President Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The hearing was earlier slated for May 19 but has now been adjourned to May 26 to enable parties exchange processes.

But the Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly and the State Attorney General, were joined as second and third defendants in

the suit. The National Assembly is the first defendant.

According to the applicants, they would be affected one way or the other by the outcome of the case since the subject matter in the originating summons relates to the validity and constitutionality of the provisions of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act enacted by the National Assembly and applicable through-out the country, including Rivers state.

The 1st applicant claimed that the outcome would affect the, "Legal rights of the Rivers State House of Assembly and impinge upon its legislative powers to make laws in addition to, but not inconsistent with Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act enacted by the National Assembly and applicable in Rivers State and will affect the scope of its authority to make laws as conferred on it

by Section 7 and Item E. 12 of the concurrent legislative list of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)."

The AG of Rivers, said he should be joined in the suit as the state was constitutionally bound to be governed democratically in accordance with letters and spirit of the constitution.

Responding, Buhari's counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said he was not opposed to the applicants joining the suit.

In the suit filed on April 29, 2022, marked: SC/CV/504/2022 by the

President and the Chief Law Officer of the country, wherein they are contending that the said Section of the Electoral Act 2022 was in conflict with constitutional provisions, has the National Assembly as the sole defendant.

The plaintiffs noted that the Constitution has made provisions for qualifications and disqualifications for the offices of the President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy-Governor, Senate and House of Representatives and House of Assembly, Ministers, Commissioners and Special Advisers.

Buhari and Malami added that the same Constitution has equally, “The qualifying factors for election into the office of President, Vice President, Governor, Deputy Gravenor, Senate, House of Representatives, Houses of Assembly and Ministers.”

They also prayed the apex court to declare that, by the joint and or combined reading of Sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196, of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), the provisions of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which also ignores Section 84(3) of the same Act, is an additional qualifying and/or disqualifying factors for the National Assembly, House of Assembly, Gubernatorial and

right, when it is right and how it is right.

"The second is vision, what is the vision that we have? And if you have no vision, you may have eyes, but you are blind. And I believe that is part of our situation.

"The third is passion. And when you said you are involved in this with a passion, and I was telling some people this morning that passion means madness; that you are mad about Nigeria. I am and I have no apologies for that, because I have no other country I can call my own and I have no other country I can go to and say, yes, I have come to live here.

"Passion means being mad about Nigeria, having a touch of madness and I look at you (Hayatu-Deen) and say, yes, you are mad about Nigeria, too.

"Fourth one is innovation. We cannot be doing the same thing that we have done in the past that did not pay us and continue to repeat it and expect any change. We have to move out of it, we have to innovate, we have to re-strategise.

"And you talk about security and people ask me about it and I say I know that we can put all insecurity in Nigeria behind us within a space of two years. That we have not done or that we are still in the situation we are is a choice that has been made by our leaders, not the way God wants us to be.

"Like you said, I couldn't agree with you more, that no individual in Nigeria, no political party, no smuggled person can make a critical mass that will resolve the situation that we are on today. It has to be an all Nigerian hands on deck. No section of the Nigerian community should be left out.”

Obasanjo said he believed Hayatu-Deen had the requisite knowledge, “from what you have said, you have the vision, also you told me that you have the madness and you have innovation, but let me add, Nigeria is a complex country.

And we need to understand the

complexity of Nigeria and that complexity if we take care of it, Nigeria is not a difficult country to rule or to manage, but we must all be ready."

Earlier at the PDP secretariat in Ogun State, Hayatu-Deen, a former Managing Director of FSB International Bank, declared that Nigeria was "decomposing and dissolving very fast". But he said he had the capacity, experience, and knowledge to turn things around for the country.

The aspirant, who said he had been to several parts of Nigeria, including South-west, described himself as a passionate and complete Nigerian.

According to Hayatu-Deen, "My blood is a Nigerian blood.

I had seen Nigeria with the eyes of a Nigerian and not from the perspective of a tribal man. I am prepared to govern Nigeria from the first day of inauguration on May 29, 2023.

"We are suffering from selfinflicted wounds. As an economist, I know how to fix the economy. I will provide social security, I will provide energy security, I will deal with the issue of national insecurity."

Continued on page 44

OBASANJO: NIGERIA’S INABILITY TO CONTAIN INSECURITY A CHOICE BY HER LEADERS Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, stated that between January and March this year, a total of 360 people were killed by terrorist groups in the state, while 1,389 others were abducted.

Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, in his own assessment, said the epicentre of insecurity in Nigeria had moved from the North-east to the Northwest. El-Rufai declared that what was currently happening in his North-west geopolitical zone was far more serious and potentially more dangerous than what happened in the North-east.

The governor said Kaduna State was becoming a haven for terrorists because they saw its forests as a comfortable fortress for their activities.

Obasanjo spoke at his penthouse residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he played host to a presidential aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed HayatuDeen. The ex-president said Nigeria required a leader, who had passion, innovation, and vision for Nigeria, some who possessed adequate knowledge of the challenges faced the country.

The former president insisted Nigeria could overcome its security challenges within two years with the right leader willing to make tough decisions. He urged Nigerians to brace up and be ready to make sacrifices to put the country back on the right path.

Obasanjo explained, "Some people say the human memories are short, maybe they are right, because if human memories are not short, some of the mistakes that we are making, we will not be making them.

"Yes, we have a record, which some people may find a little bit not what they want to hear, but whatever people want to hear, I believe, like you (Hayatu-Deen) have rightly said, this period is not like any other period in the history of Nigeria and you used two words, decomposing and dissolving. I can't find any better words to describe the situation we have found ourselves.

"It is an agonising situation for you, obviously, and also for me.

I want to emphasise the point

that the Nigerian situation, bad as it is, will only be put right by Nigerians at the forefront of our situation. So, Nigerians have to brace themselves up to do what needs to be done to put Nigeria back on the right path.

"And you are right in saying that wherever you go now, one of the things you hear is that Nigeria is not on the table, but why shouldn't Nigeria be on the table? What does it cost Nigeria to be on the table?

"I will say four things, of which I was reminded this morning. One is knowledge. If Nigeria is not at the table, maybe the knowledge that we should have of ourselves, of our situation, of our continent, and, indeed, of the world is not that adequate. If that knowledge is adequate, we will do what is

FG: $60BN NEEDED TO AID ACCESS TO RELIABLE ELECTRICITY, CLEAN COOKING FACILITIES IN 8 YEARS The SPE annual symposium and exhibition had as its theme: “Energy Transition in Africa: A Strategic Pathway to Net Zero.”

“Annual investments of around $35 billion could bring electricity access for 759 million people who currently lack it, and $25 billion a year can help 2.6 billion people gain access to clean cooking between now and 2030,” the minister said.

However, he stressed that the required investment represents only a small fraction of the multi-trilliondollar global energy investment needed overall.

Sylva noted that despite contributing less than six per cent of world energy consumption and two per cent of total global emissions, there was need for the continent to shift to cleaner energy use.

With significantly untapped fossil fuel reserves, which could provide the much-needed foreign direct investment and export revenue, Sylva said Africa has the ability to play a leading role in this regard.

However, the minister stressed that Nigeria has the mineral resources with approximately 208.62 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven gas valued at over $803.9 trillion

and potential upside of 600TCF of gas, the most extensive in Africa, and in the top 10 globally.

Describing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a game changer, Sylva said the legislation would help support the continent to alleviate energy poverty.

“The PIA has generous incentives to enable development, distribution, penetration, and utilisation of gas even as it incentivises entry into the midstream, especially for pipelines with an additional five-year tax holiday for investment in gas pipelines.

“The PIA is a supply-side enabler, capable of provoking and triggering commercial interests and investments in gas utilisation as well as treating gas as a stand-alone commodity.

“As a nation, we are following a transition pathway that combines technology, investment, business strategies, and government policy that will enable Nigeria to transition from its current energy system to a low-carbon energy system with natural gas playing a pivotal role over the next generation, roughly between now and 2060,” he added.

The minister insisted that there

must be multiple pathways to the energy transition in order to ensure that no country is left behind in the process of achieving net-zero by 2060.

“As a continent, we need to be intentional and recognise the need to develop hydrocarbon resources in environmentally and socially responsible ways.

“And as alluded to by the African Union, we need to be realistic in choosing the energy transition pathways which addresses our unique requirements and circumstances,” Sylva said.

According to Sylva, global energy demand would likely be almost 60 per cent higher in 2060 than today and by 2070 the world is likely to be using at least 50 per cent more energy than it does currently as population grows and people seek to improve their quality of life.

“According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable energy is expected to support the growth of electricity from 20 per cent to 50 per cent of total energy supply by 2050.

“The remaining energy demand that is impossible to electrify will

require cleaner solutions, which can only come from natural gas – the closest ally to renewables,” he noted.

Quoting United Nations estimates, he noted that the current world population of 7.6 billion was expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100, while half of the world's population increase is anticipated to occur in just five nations in Africa between 2017 and 2050.

He listed the countries as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Sylva said around 900 million people are presently without access to clean cooking in Africa; and in 32 countries more than 75 per cent of the population are without access to clean cooking.

“Let me also mention that the world’s 20 least-electrified countries are in Sub-Saharan Africa, where most of the global unserved population live,” he pointed out.

But he insisted that the foregoing does not mean it is all gloom and doom, maintaining that everyone in the world could have access to clean, affordable energy within the next nine to ten years if countries modestly increase investments.

Terrorists Killed 360, Abducted 1,389 in Three Months in Kaduna El-Rufai expressed concern about the existence of Boko Haram and Ansaru terrorist enclaves, particularly, in Birnin-Gwari and Chikun local government areas of Kaduna State. He stated this while receiving the first quarter 2022 security report at the Government House, Kaduna.

The governor appealed to the military and other security agencies to take note of the situation before it got out of control.

“It is unfortunate that in spite of our investment in human, material and other resources to stem the tide of criminality in the state, the Continued on page 43

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

COMMENCEMENT OF MOMO PSB OPERATIONS...

L-R: MTN Group President/CEO, Ralph Mupita; Chairman, Mcebisi Jonas; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe (OFR) and CEO, Karl Olutokun Toriola, during a courtesy visit by the MTN delegation to the CBN Governor in Abuja on the back of the commencement of MoMo PSB operations in Nigeria... yesterday

Naira Weakens to N600/$ at Parallel Market as Politicians Mop Up Dollars Kayode Tokede with agency report Politicians stocking up dollars ahead of political parties’ primary elections over the weekend have driven the naira to a new low of N600 to a dollar on the parallel market.

A Bureau De Change (BDC) operators, Abubakar Mohammed, confirmed the current rate of the greenback to Bloomberg. The present parallel market rate is the lowest the currency has traded this year.

The official naira rate was N415.95 as of Wednesday. The parallel market thrives on shortages, which has helped drive the gap in the two rates to above 40 per cent.

Politicians competing for support from delegates in the party primaries are creating massive demand for dollars in cash, Mohammed said by phone.

“Demand is not going to abate soon, which means more pressure

for the naira, and also because dollar supply is very low,” he said.

Former governor of Anambra state and a presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, recently expressed worry over the diminishing value of the naira.

Obi who was guest on the ‘Morning Show’ on Arise Television, while speaking on the decreasing value of the nation’s currency on the parallel market, said one of the most important ingredients of a nation was the respect people have for their currency.

“Currency is the measure of faith and trust of citizens of a nation, it is the measure of productivity. It is very worrisome that government officials who are supposed to be the protector of our local currency have abandoned the currency and are now spending dollars.

“I find it worrisome that while our manufacturers, business people

Buhari Signs National Health Authority Bill into Law FG to set up fund to cover 83m poor Nigerians Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has signed into law the recently passed National Health Insurance Authority Bill 2022, which repealed the National Health Insurance Scheme Act, Cap N42, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The president, according to a statement by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, yesterday, said at the signing of the new law, that a fund would be set up to ensure coverage of 83 million poor Nigerians who cannot afford to pay premiums as recommended by the Lancet Nigeria Commission.

While elaborating on how the fund would be sourced, Buhari said: “For the large number of vulnerable individuals who are not able to pay health insurance premiums, a Vulnerable Group Fund will be set up to include a component of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund due to the

Authority, Health Insurance Levy, Special Intervention Fund, and any investment proceeds, donations and gifts to the Authority.”

The President announced that the Authority would collaborate with state government Health Insurance Schemes to accredit primary and secondary health facilities and enroll Nigerians into the scheme in order to ensure the delivery of quality health care.

The new Act also enables the Authority and state governments to develop information management systems and digital records for better data collection, monitoring and quality assurance.

Buhari, therefore, tasked the Health Reform Committee to work with state governments, the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority to ensure the implementation of the articles in the new Act.

are not getting dollars to bring in critical goods into our country, the politicians have enough dollars to share and these people are those who have no legitimate means of earning this dollar,” he said.

Obi lamented that the country’s politics has remained largely transactional.

Nigeria’s two major political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, the PDP, plan to hold primary elections to decide

legislative, governorship and presidential candidates from the weekend to early June.

The country would elect a new national leader in February 2023, to replace Muhammadu Buhari, who ends his second four-year tenure in May. Spokespersons for the two parties didn’t immediately respond to calls requesting comment.

Politicians in Nigeria have a history of buying votes at party primaries going as far back as the

1993 elections, Director of Abujabased Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan said.

He added: “I think we’re just seeing the beginning of rise of the dollar because as we move closer to the primaries and the parties are trying to put their houses in order, the value of the dollar will also trade up.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) could be forced to devalue the naira if it continues to weaken in the parallel market. The banking

sector regulator has done so three times since March 2020, in a bid to curb demand and close the gap between the official and unauthorised rate.

The central bank should improve supply of the greenback rather than suppress demand, the President of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadabe, said by phone.

There is a “lack of confidence in the local currency,” Gwadabe said.

Bilateral Relations: Buhari Leads 7-man Team to Meet New UAE President in Abu Dhabi Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari is leading a seven-man team to meet with the new President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi, to discuss the need to sustain existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and UAE. The president, who departed the State House, Abuja, for Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport at 12.15pm, Thursday, would

also use the opportunity of the visit to convey his condolences on the passing of the former president and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Buhari, according to a statement issued by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, would also extend his congratulations to the new president of the country, renewing bonds of the longstanding friendship between Nigeria and the UAE. Under the new leadership, the president looks forward

to a bigger and stronger partnership for peace, stability and prosperity of both countries.

Buhari, in an earlier congratulatory message to the new UAE leader, had reaffirmed Nigeria’s cordial relationship with the country, noting that the cooperation between both governments have helped Nigeria in tracking down illegal assets and tracing terrorist funds.

The president is being accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof.

Isa Ali Pantami; his Federal Capital Territory counterpart, Mohammed Bello; the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada.

Other members of his delegation are the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Mohammed Monguno (rtd) and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

Buhari is expected back in the country on Saturday.

Soludo Presents Revised 2022 Budget to Anambra Confirms state lawmaker still held by kidnappers David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Anambra State Governor, Prof.

Chukwuma Soludo has presented a revised 2022 budget to the Anambra State House of Assembly.

Soludo also confirmed that the member representing his State constituency, Aguata II, Hon. Okey Okoye, was still in kidnappers’ den.

The governor while presenting the revised budget on the floor of Anambra State House of Assembly said his government hit the ground running immediately after his inauguration. Furthermore, he said his administration remained

committed to creating a livable homeland for Anambra people.

He said the revised budget was meant to meet the realities on ground and also help his government succeed.

"The purpose of the 2022 Revised budget is to reflect current realities, challenges, and priorities of the new administration and Ndi Anambra.

"We are undaunted by the state of the treasury. We have seriously started reforming our system of tax administration to significantly ramp up our internally generated revenue over the coming years. In the meantime, the dire needs of Ndi Anambra

and our transformation agenda cannot wait.

"We are working on a mixture of financing options (including debt that is ring-fenced to fund bankable projects and/or infrastructure with impacts on the economy) to guarantee efficient and effective service delivery to our people while ensuring fiscal sustainability over the medium to longer terms. The details of these will be laid out in our 2023 budget, " he explained.

Soludo said the size of the revised budget was about N170 billion, versus the existing appropriation of N142 billion, with capital expenditure accounting for

64 per cent, compared with 57 per cent previously.

"Capital expenditure increased by 33 per cent, from N81 billion to N108 billion, while recurrent expenditure increased marginally by 0.79 per cent from N60 billion.

"We have declared a state of emergency on rebuilding our road infrastructure and traffic management. About N52 billion or about 31 per cent of the total budget is for the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and we intend to simultaneously invest in roads in most of the local governments, paying special attention to our urban regeneration agenda.

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BUHARI IN UAE...

L-R: Minister of State Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zabairu Dada; President Muhammadu Buhari; New UAE Leader, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and an official of UAE government, in Abu Dhabi ... yesterday

US Ranked World's Most Secretive Financial Jurisdiction for Illegal Money Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The United States of America (US) has emerged the most secretive financial jurisdiction to hide illegal money in the world, according to the 2022 Financial Secrecy Index (FSI), a comprehensive study from the Tax Justice Network.

Other countries in the top five included Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kongi and Luxembourg, according to FACT Coalition's FSI report.

The US ranking is deteriorating from prior Financial Secrecy Indices, in part due to unaddressed loopholes and lax rules in the country's anti-money laundering and tax laws, it stated.

Its emergence as the world's top destination of illegal money came on the heels of the recent declaration by the global financial watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that it would assess its member countries more

frequently to assist them further in tackling moneylaundering and combating terrorism financing.

The US emerged top on the list even as it continued to implement sanctions on Russia and some of its wealthiest elite following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

While it is collaborating with governments around the world to locate and freeze Russian oligarch assets, this task is made more difficult by existing systems of financial secrecy that allow people, including kleptocrats and criminals, to hide their financial assets from authorities and investigators.

It is not clear how much money is illegally hidden in the US, although the Treasury Department had estimated around two per cent of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP)- about $480 billion was hidden, according to CBS News.

The process of setting up a shell corporation, a corporation

Osinbajo Denies Providing over 7,000 Delegates Free Accommodation Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Osinbajo Campaign Organisation has denied media reports that it planned to provide hotel accommodation for more than 7,000 All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates across the country during the party’s presidential primary election.

The support group in a statement issued yesterday described the report as false.

It stated: "We have seen an outlandish news report that a so-called Osinbajo Campaign Organisation has said that it would provide hotel accommodation for more than 7,000 All Progressives Congress delegates across the country during the party’s presidential primary election.

"Attributing such a claim to Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to the President, in the Office of the Vice-President, the report falsely claimed that "Ojudu announced this to delegates in

Minna, while wooing them to vote for Osinbajo during the party’s primaries."

According to the statement, for the records, Ojudu at no time made such a claim and the Osinbajo Campaign team had no such plans.

It stressed that such reported offer of free accommodation and free food should be ignored.

It said the Vice President, Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo has continued to spend time interacting directly with the APC delegates and stakeholders across the States answering their questions on issues of politics and governance.

It noted that it was the plan and intention of the Osinbajo Campaign Team to keep engaging the APC delegates on the major issues of the day, exchanging ideas on how to move the country forward, while forging a partnership of stakeholders whose collaboration would go beyond the 2023 elections.

without active business operations or significant assets in the US is an easier process than getting a library card due to applicants not needing to verify their identity, a terrorist-financing expert at Washington think tank Global Financial Integrity, Lakshmi Kumar said.

The US was identified as the second most secretive country for hiding money in 2020. Later in the year, Congress passed the Corporate Transparency Act, requiring corporations and companies to report who owns the corporations and companies to a central directory maintained by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network at the Treasury Department.

Commenting on the new FSI report, the Executive Director of the FACT Coalition, Ian

Gary said: “At a time when the world is being confronted by the very real and tragic consequences of enabling global corruption, these findings point the finger at U.S. secrecy and should be a rallying cry for financial transparency.

“The Biden administration has already committed to making a number of necessary anti-corruption reforms to make sanctions more effective and to close the U.S. financial system to corrupt and criminal actors whose actions are destabilising global markets and democratic institutions.

"This ranking underscores that while the U.S. is joining with global governments to locate and freeze Russian oligarch assets, kleptocrats and criminals are still able to hide and grow their financial assets

with relative ease in the U.S. “Enforcing sanctions is difficult when we don’t have the tools necessary to know how and where oligarchs are invested in the United States.”

“The U.S. simply cannot afford to slide backwards in the fight for financial transparency.

“To fight corruption, we need to implement the Corporate Transparency Act, and to implement the Corporate Transparency Act, we need to fully fund FinCEN now,”said Congresswoman, Carolyn B. Maloney, the co-author of the CTA. Financial secrecy undermines national security, democracy and the rule of law globally, while enabling tax avoidance and evasion which robs governments of resources they need to fight inequality

and address the climate crisis.

The 2022 FSI highlights other reforms necessary to assist with sanctions enforcement and to reduce the US role as a haven to hide and grow ill-gotten or other illicit financial gains.

These include, among others: “Bringing greater transparency to the $50 trillion US real estate market; engaging in more reciprocal automatic information exchange of financial account information for tax purposes and sharing the very information that the US has required from foreign financial institutions since 2014; introducing consistent anti-money laundering due diligence and reporting requirements to the $11 trillion dollar U.S. private investment fund industry,” among others.

Despite June 1 Deadline, Enforcement of Commercial Motorcycles’ Ban Continues, Says Lagos Government Lekki residents back state government Bennett Oghifo The seizure of commercial motorcycles by the Lagos State Task Force will continue, despite the June 1 deadline issued by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for them to leave six local government areas, the state government explained yesterday.

The State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, disclosed this in a statement.

The six local governments are: Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa and Surulere.

The statement noted that the deadline does not invalidate the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which states that “no persons shall ride, drive or propel a motorcycle or tricycle on a major highway within the State, and any person in contravention of this provision commits an offence,” and would be made to face the wrath of the law.

The Lagos State Task Force,

led by CSP Shola Jejeloye, has continued to enforce the law.

“It seized 238 motorcycles in Lekki on Tuesday and Wednesday. In Iba on LagosBadagry Expressway, where it was violently resisted today, the Task Force seized 195 motorcycles.

The riders were operating on highways and bridges in flagrant disobedience of the law because, according to them, they are free to ply unauthorized routes till June 1.

“This is wrong. The February 1, 2020 directive has not been reversed. The enforcement was weakened by COVID-19, which affected all areas of life. Now, the action is being reinforced.

“The government praises Lagosians who have come out to support the ban on commercial motorcycles in the six local government areas, which Governor Sanwo-Olu has described as the “first phase” of the action triggered by safety and security concerns,” it added.

Meanwhile, the Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association (LERA)

has also announced ban on commercial motorcycle operators, otherwise known as Okada riders, in the area.

The Chairman of LERA, Mr Yomi Idowu at a press briefing yesterday, appealed to the Lagos State Government to enforce the law banning Okada riders in the state.

Idowu also called on the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA) to flush out hoodlums and miscreants in uncompleted buildings within the community.

"Indeed, Okada has been an environmental nuisance and many residents have had their fair share of their sheer recklessness. It is an obvious fact that security within Lekki Phase I has deteriorated.

"It is of utmost importance that we all take a collective stance and formulate joint initiatives to avert a total exposure to imminent security threats to the lives and assets of our residents,” he stated.

He described the killing of the sound engineer, David Imoh in Lekki as dastardly, animalistic and senseless.

“Intelligence report reaching us is that following the raid on Okada riders and subsequent seizure of their bikes in Lekki Phase 1 by officials of Lagos State Taskforce, the riders, who believe the action was instigated by Lekki residents, are planning to attack the residents," he said.

He described as worrisome the menace of Okada riders which recently led to bloody robbery incidents, kidnappings, assassinations and ritual killings to name a few.

A member of the Board of Trustees, Chief Emeka Nweze said those who patronise the ‘okada riders’ are not homeowners, rather domestic workers and people working on sites.

Nweze called on the state government to ensure those who have undeveloped properties start working on them immediately or have them confiscated.

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POLITICS

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

Ochendo: Dignity in Quitting When the Ovation is Loudest Chinweuba Wachukwu commends the exemplary legislative activism of Senator Theodore Orji from Abia State, particularly for abiding by his promise to quit the Red Chamber at the end of the 9th National Assembly

W

hen Senator T.A.Orji in 2019 announced that he will not contest for the seat of Abia Central Senatorial Zone again at the expiration of his tenure in 2023, many received the news with mixed feelings. Some school of thought were skeptical. The thinking at the time was that, before 2023, Ochendo might reconsider his decision. But they were wrong as Ochendo has stood by his words and is ready to keep to the timetable of exit and will happily exit office come May 29, 2023.

To Ochendo, political office holders don’t need to wait to die in office when there are young vibrant men to take over the baton of leadership. The fact remains that nobody has monopoly of knowledge and political power.

By voluntarily throwing in the towel, Senator T.A.Orji has further endeared himself to the people. He is leaving office at a time when he is still sound.

And he is the first Senator from Abia State to honourably announce that he would quit the stage when the ovation is loudest. He has proven to be truly Papa Ukwu (the Big Father).

The major problem in Africa is of leaders who do not want to leave office, believing that they are the only persons qualified to rule.

In Nigeria, Senators like David Mark, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, Hon. Nicholas Mutu, Enyi Abaribe etc have served 20 years or less in the Senate and still counting.

In Abia State, no Senator voluntarily threw in the towel, either they lost at the polls, forced out by circumstances or were given political appointment.

For instance, late Senator Uche Chukwumerije lost at the polls to Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, while Senator Mao Ohuabunwa in turn lost to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, all from Abia North Senatorial Zone.

In Abia South Senatorial Zone, Senator Adolphus Wabara stepped down for the incumbent Senator, Senator Enyi Abaribe because of an existing zoning formula in his Abia South Senatorial District that ensured that the baton was passed to another area, Ngwa precisely (the seat is rotated between Ukwa and Ngwa people). He was later appointed the Pro Chancellor and Chairman Board of Governing Council Abia State University Uturu and also appointed as the Acting Secretary PDP Board of Trustees.

In Abia Central Senatorial Zone, Senator Chris Adighije lost to Senator Nkechi Nwogu, she in turn lost to the incumbent Senator T.A.Orji. No Senator from Abia State has ever retired or threw in the towel when the ovation is loudest except Senator T.A.Orji, fondly called Ochendo Global.

The truth is that, Senators have unlimited tenure and can remain in chamber for as long as they are re-elected in general election.

With the laudable achievements/ infrastructural development, annual scholarship programme, free eye surgery and skills acquisition programmes of Senator T.A.Orji in Abia Central Senatorial Zone and beyond and his outstanding/quality representation in the Red Chamber, if Senator T.A.Orji should recontest for the Senatorial seat, he will be re-elected over and over again.

Senator T.A.Orji is currently the most productive Senator, Abia Central Senatorial District has ever produced since 1999 till date. He has successfully changed

the narrative of the constituency.

It the Red Chamber, he has been outstanding. He sponsored over 15 bills

and moved more than 7 motions. Four of his bills have been signed into law by President Muhamnadu Buhari. Worthy

of mention is the SB 256 A bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the Nigerian Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) etc.

Ochendo was rated the third most productive Senator in the Senate since June 2016 till date. He was also rated the “Highest in Legislative Productivity” in a report card of the 9th Senate Volume one number one (June 2019-May 2020).

Others include: The Most Distinguished Senator of the year 2021 by Inter Africa Committee Worldwide. “Senator of the Year,’ by Authority Newspaper.

“Most Performing Senator of the Year 2017” by Vanguard Newspaper etc.

Because of the numerous infrastructural development Ochendo has put in place in his constituency, Abia Central Senatorial Zone has become a yardstick that other constituencies are using to measure the performance of their representatives.

Papa Ukwu as he is fondly called, has left his footprints in the sands of time and will be greatly missed in the Red Chamber.

He has boldly and firmly etched his name in gold in the mind of his constituents and beyond.

Senator T.AOrji has left an indelible mark on the political history of Nigeria.

Today, in Abia State, every time Ochendo’s name is mentioned, the people start clapping, and hailing so loudly that the windows of the hall or canopy shake.

What a blessing that the mere mention of a person’s name would make people smile!

APC Convention: Osinbajo Favoured to Clinch Presidential Ticket Yinusa Duba advances reasons for placing a bet on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s victory at the All Progressives Congress presidential primary

I

t is exactly two weeks to the Special National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and there are clear indications that bookmakers may be in for a shocker as Senator Bola Tinubu is increasingly facing strong headwinds in his bid to clinch the party’s presidential ticket. A zone-by-zone analysis of delegates’ preferences, realignments of APC governors, President Buhari’s behind-the-scene moves and emerging voting patterns indicate that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will likely emerge winner at the convention on June 1. The Vice President’s intense campaigns (he visits two states in a day), his inspiring messages and the emphasis he places on his experience and readiness to lead right from the first day are increasingly resonating with party stakeholders across the country. Of the 20 aspirants or so in the field, only three – Osinbajo, Tinubu and Amaechi – are the serious contenders. The rest came into the race for many reasons, and so I won’t waste time profiling their chances. In fact, I am sure that these unserious ones will step down before the Convention even begins.

They were convinced to buy the N100 million forms to raise funds for the party.

In the South-west region, Tinubu will take Lagos, his home base, and take a slight lead in Osun. The VP will win Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti and Ogun. The governors of these four states are solidly with Osinbajo. But Osun is in strong contention by Tinubu and the VP, and so the votes would be almost evenly split between the two.

While Chibuike Amaechi will take his home state of Rivers, Osinbajo will sweep

Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Bayelsa.

In Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva’s firm grip on the delegates is the VP’s advantage. Sylva will easily align with President Buhari and vote Osinbajo. In Akwa Ibom, the VP is banking on the supports of bigwigs like former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and Senator Ita Enang, among others; while in neighbouring Cross River State, Gov. Ben Ayade is leading the battalion of supporters rooting for the VP. In Delta, Senator Omo Ovie-Agege and Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo are the driving forces behind the VP. There would be serious contention for Edo State by both the VP and Tinubu.

Although former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole may be rooting for Tinubu in Edo, but the statutory delegates are solidly behind the VP.

The South-east delegates are going into the APC Convention with a sense of grievance. They would have loved to vote for an aspirant from their zone. But in the absence of that, the voting pattern would be disparate. Those from Imo and Ebonyi would be influenced by their governors, while the rest would mostly make their independent decisions. David Umahi and Hope Uzodinma would listen to Buhari’s persuasions and support Osinbajo with their delegates. Delegates from Enugu, Abia and Anambra will support the VP overwhelmingly, but a few would however line up behind Tinubu and Amaechi.

I can confirm that the delegates from the three Zones in the North (NE, NC and NW) will vote in the same pattern because most of the 19 Northern States are APC states whose governors will go along with the President; and we all know that President Buhari is not willing to support Tinubu. Buhari is bent on having his VP succeed him. This is an established fact which has rankled the Tinubu team to no end. But it is what it is. No APC governor from the North will antagonize the President. They respect, adore and revere the old man. Northern governors will support whosoever the President anoint. Although Tinubu will make some good showings in Kano, Zamfara and a few other places, his overall performance in the North will fall behind the VP’s. Amaechi, on the other hand, will give a smattering performance in some places like Katsina.

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

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BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET

A S

REPO

A T

Group Business Editor Eromosele Abiodun Email oriarehu.eromosele@thisdaylive.com

08056356325

M A Y

S & P INDEX

1 8 , 2 0 2 2

S & P INDEX

EXCHANGE RATE

OPR

6.50%

CALL

10.75%

INDEX LEVEL

610.44%

1/4 TO DATE

– 1.31%

N416.75/ 1 US DOLLAR*

OVERNIGHT

7.17%

1-MONTH

9.66%

1-DAY

0.03%

YEAR TO DATE

7.13%

*AS AT LAST FRIDAY

3-MONTH

1028%

MONTH-TO-DATE

– 1.31%

Experts Move to Adopt New Strategies to Boost Post-COVID-19 Air Transport in Africa

Chinedu Eze For one week, aviation experts from Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) region met in Abuja to brainstorm on how to revive air transport system in Africa, which has been devastated by huge losses incurred due to coronavirus pandemic and its attendant lockdown.

The meeting was the 7th Aviation Week involving all African air transport stakeholders in the AFI region and the goal was about how to eliminate barriers to air transport and also to improve safety in air transport in the region.

African Union Commissioner

for Infrastructure, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, kicked off discussion on the COVID-19 pandemic, which he said has caused devastating impacts on the lives and livelihoods of countries all over the world and the aviation industry, leading to deep losses and reductions in GDP, jobs, access to finance, and industry revenue.

He said that the rapid progress in the administration of vaccines has offered hope of an end to the worst of the damage caused by the pandemic, but there are many challenges to achieve the target of 60 per cent of vaccination rate in Africa by end of 2022 as

set by the Africa CDC (Centre for Disease Control).

He noted that the economic and social impacts of the pandemic on African countries and the industry become more severe such that waiting for a full vaccine roll out is not a sustainable option.

“This aviation week should provide an opportunity to exchange on key challenges affecting the restart and recovery of the air transport industry. According to recent statistic from IATA, over the past year, governments around the world have provided over $400 billion to airlines to support their survival and restart efforts, given the

importance of aviation to economies.

“In Africa, the total estimated amount of the financial relief measures provided to airlines in Africa was only $2,721,539,647 (almost $2.7 billion) by end of 2021. This included the government support in the form of providing loans, guarantees, wage subsidies, and direct cash injections to airlines: $2,638,765,827 (almost $2.6 billion),” Abou-Zeid said.

He stated that the African Union Commission continue to urge African states and her key development finance institutions to further support African airlines, using many

forms including deferral of charges and taxes whenever possible, sovereign guarantees for private airlines, wage subsidies and other payment support.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said it has saved the country about $3 million capital flight in 18 months, amounting to N1.785 billion in today’s exchange rate of N595 to a dollar.

This it the money that would have been used to train personnel overseas but NCAA domesticated the training and during the period COVID-19 protocol made it difficult for people to travel, the agency

brought down the training to Nigeria.

The authority also said that it had carried out about 400 aviation courses on its technical personnel locally within the same period.

The Director-General of NCAA, Capt. Musa Nuhu, disclosed this in an interview on the sideline of the Africa India Ocean (AFI) Aviation Week in Abuja.

According to Nuhu, since he took over the management of the regulatory authority in 2020, the agency had made training and retraining of personnel a top priority, Continued on page 28

FAO: 18M Nigerians Projected to be Food Insecure Between June and August 2022 Oluchi Chibuzor The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has projected that by June and August 2022, the number of food insecure

in Nigeria will be around 18 million people, of which 620,000 are foreseen to face CH Phase 4 (Emergency) and 13 550 CH Phase 5 (Catastrophe).

For the West Africa region,

where an estimated 27.3 million people are facing acute food insecurity, the number is projected to increase to an unprecedented 38.3 million between June and August 2022, if humanitarian

interventions are not scaled up.

This was revealed in the latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation, Quarterly Global Report and Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and

Agriculture (GIEWS) Special Alert for West Africa - Sahel, released

by FAO. FAO said the alarming high level of food insecurity is due to localized shortfalls in cereal

production in 2021, worsening conflicts, high food prices and macroeconomic challenges compounded by the impacts of Continued on page 28

M A R K E T D ATA A S AT T U E S D AY, M AY 1 8 , 2 0 2 2 BILLS

BONDS DESCRIPTION

Price

Yield

14.20 14-MAR2024 13.53 23-MAR2025 12.50 22-JAN2026 16.2884 17MAR-2027 13.98 23-FEB2028

110.85

7.73

108.85

9.89

106.42

10.35

119.11

11.07

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Change Updated Time (%) 13, -0.01 May 2022 13, 0.00 May 2022 13, -0.15 May 2022 13, 0.00 May 2022 13, 0.00 May 2022

Discount

NTB 9-Jun22 NTB 14-Jul22 NTB 11Aug-22 NTB 8-Sep22

306,00 307,00

0.02 May 13, 2022

301,00 303,00

-0.22 May 13, 2022

297,00 299,00

-0.54 May 13, 2022

293,00 296,00

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NTB 13-Oct- 345,00 350,00 22

0.46 May 13, 2022

Yield

OTC F X F U T U R E S

CPS

MATURITY

Change Updated Time (%)

MATURITY NEVE CP I 24-MAY-22 DANC CP II 25-MAY-22 TRBH CP V 26-JUL-22 FSDH CP VI 1-AUG-22 NENL CP I 24-OCT-22

Discount Yield 16.72 16.81 8.72

Change Updated Time (%) 0.15 May 13, 2022

8.75

0.14 May 13, 2022

11.32 11.58

-0.39 May 13, 2022

8.00

-0.43 May 13, 2022

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CONTRACT Current TENOR Contract Rate ($/₦) (MONTH) NGUS MAY 25 1 427.24 2022 NGUS JUN 29 428.93 2 2022 NGUS JUL 27 3 430.63 2022 NGUS AUG 31 4 432.32 2022 NGUS SEP 28 5 434.02 2022

Updated Time

May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022 May 13, 2022

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BUSINESSWORLD

AIR WATCH

NCAA Cautions Pilots, Operators o v e r H a z a r d o u s We a t h e r Chinedu Eze The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has advised pilots and airline operators to exercise caution over aviation hazardous weather in rainy season.

This warning was contained in an Advisory Circular (AC) with reference no AC: NCAAAEROMET – 33 initiated by the Directorate of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards (DAAS) addressed to all pilots and airline operators and signed by the Director General, Capt.

Musa Nuhu.

The AC is coming on the advent of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) released for the year 2022 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

NIMET has predicted early/late March as the commencement of rainy season across the Southern states while April/May and June, 2022 is the onset of rainy season in Central and Northern parts of Nigeria.

Rainy season, at outset, is

usually characterized with severe thunderstorms and many other hazardous weather phenomena such as severe turbulence, microburst, low level wind shear events that could affect the safety of flight operations. Hence, the need for all stakeholders to perform their roles as stated below in order to ensure safety of flight operations.

The agency said that with the issuance of this circular, Advisory Circular (AC): NCAA – AEROMET 32 is accordingly cancelled.

“Therefore, enumerated below is the responsibility for Air Traffic Controllers in the interest of safety: Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) may temporarily close the airspace when hazardous weather conditions such as severe thunderstorm, squall lines microburst or level windshear are forecast by NIMET. “On the other hand, enumerated below are series of responsibilities for pilots and flight crew/operators: Flight Crews/Operators and ATCs shall ensure strict adherence

to aerodrome operating minima; pilots shall exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast by NIMET and pilots /Flight Crew Members shall obtain adequate departure, enroute and destination weather information and briefing from NIMET Aerodrome Meterelogical Stations prior to flight operations.

“In view of the above, operators are required to play a key role in ensuring adequate measures are put in place to lessen the effects of the attendant flight delays and cancellations on their passengers occasioned by hazardous severe weather during rainy season in accordance with Nig. CARs, Part 19,” the agency said.

The Authority also urged all passengers to exercise patience and understanding during this period as their safety is of utmost importance, stakeholders should ensure strict compliance to safety regulations, as violations would be viewed seriously.

A I R WATCH Poor Scheduling as Bane of Nigerian Airlines

Emirates Embarks on Intensive Search of Cabin Crew Emirates has announced that it has embarked on a 30-city tour, scouting for the best hands and brains to join its cabin crew team, beginning from now until the end of June.

The search, the airline said, would involve professional recruiters whose brief is to seek and recruit talented people with a passion for service, preparatory to an expected post-COVID air travel boom. Emirates’ teams will travel from Australia to the UK, and dozens of European cities in-between, as well as Cairo,

Algiers, Tunis and Bahrain.

Emirates Group’s Executive Vice President for Human Resources, Abdulaziz Al Ali said: “There’s no more exciting airline than Emirates for anyone interested in a flying career, and we’ve received tremendous interest since we began our recruitment drive for cabin crew in November.

“While parts of the application process are done online, we always make the effort to meet our candidates in person whenever we can,

and that is why our Talent Acquisition team is doing a whirlwind 30-city tour over the next 6 weeks to assess prospective candidates.”

Emirates’ truly global cabin crew team represent 160 nationalities, reflecting its customer mix and international operations in over 130 cities on six continents.

All Emirates crew are based in the exciting cosmopolitan city of Dubai, with company-provided accommodation, tax-free salary and more benefits.

Digitalisation of Africa’s Airports Key to Economic Recovery Critical airport worker and capacity shortfalls in Africa that threaten to keep flights and passengers grounded and impede the continents’ economic recovery can be rapidly and affordably addressed with the adoption of trusted, secure cloud-based solutions, according to SITA, the air transport industry IT and communications systems provider.

Recent experiences in the UK, Australia and other parts of the world exposed airports inability to cope with the surge in demand for air travel as countries are opened up and begin to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind them.

“As the recovery of Africa’s air transport market currently lags many bigger markets by a year, there is a golden opportunity for cash-strapped airports, including smaller provincial and regional facilities, to take pre-emptive steps and future-proof their operations to ensure they do not become transport and economic chokepoints as they ramp-up. They can achieve this by digitalising their various passenger processing systems,” said Hani El Assaad, SITA’s President for Africa and the Middle East.

Such processes include health status verification, check-in, and boarding.

Although commercial airline traffic to, from and within Africa is still below half of 2019 levels, the recovery is already under way and accelerating. According to

the airline trade body, IATA, African airlines reported a 91.8 per cent increase in demand for air travel this March compared with the same month last year and an improvement on the 70.8 per cent growth seen in February.

“With so many skilled and experienced people having left the industry during the pandemic, the clock is ticking for airports to ensure they are ready and able to meet the ever-increasing volumes of travellers, their luggage and cargo shipments. The solution is for all airports – from mega-hubs to small municipal and regional facilities -- to digitalise and automate time-costly processes like passenger processing and baggage handling. Agile cloud technology platforms that are efficient, flexible, and scalable to fluctuating passenger volumes can help alleviate the pressure.

By empowering passengers to use their mobile phones as a remote control for travel, we can reduce bottlenecks and offer a more seamless passenger journey,” El Assaad added.

Until recently, techinfrastructure costs and support requirements deterred many smaller African airports from investing in digital systems.

However, capable and scalable cloud-based technology has become significantly more affordable. It is now also well within reach of smaller, regional airports that need to meet the

combined needs to be integrated into the global air transport system and to be able to instantly switch-on additional capacity.

In Africa, so much economic activity depends on airports having sufficient capacity to facilitate efficient, reliable, secure, and safe air transport services.

By transforming the passenger experience and meeting their customer airlines’ demands for better efficiencies, smaller airports will be promoting themselves and the communities, industries, and markets they serve as safe, convenient, competitive, agile, and user-friendly destinations.

Over the past decades, the air transport industry has encouraged governments, regulators, and airport and airline operators to embrace digital technology. The result has been the advent of things we now take for granted, such as customer self-service check-in and self-baggage drop solutions, smart-phone boarding passes and various mobile apps, and Digital Health declarations and Trusted Travel Passes for storing and verifying boarding passes and COVID vaccination status, and more. SITA’s print is all over such technologies, and the postpandemic recovery is a golden opportunity to accelerate and expand digitalisationand take full advantage of the benefits and opportunities it unlocks.

Chinedu Eze Air travel in Nigeria is beset by delays caused by many factors, which include weather, breakdown of aircraft, poor airport facilities and poor scheduling.

Poor scheduling is problem of airlines, which can be averted with efficient schedule arrangement and maintenance.

In Nigeria there is also poor aircraft utilisation because the system and infrastructure guarantee limited period of time in a day to fly. Airlines can fly till midnight from Abuja to Lagos, but they cannot fly to many other airports because either those airports do not have airfield lighting or there is insecurity.

So even if it is possible, airlines cannot schedule flights late to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Kaduna and even Benin due to security concerns.

But if an airline properly schedules its rotations in the day, it would minimize delays and flight cancelations.

THISDAY spoke to the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu, who said schedule and maintenance were very crucial to an airline and determines its operation success, revenue earnings and utilisation of aircraft.

In order to mitigate flight delays and cancellation, airlines can keep aircraft on standby in case if anyone in operation suffer bird strike, engine failure or even undercarriage problem. Once any of the aircraft in the fleet is grounded for any reason, the one on standby would be deployed.

But Akinkuotu noted that it might not be practically realistic to keep aircraft on standby while it generates expenses, instead of operating and earning revenue with it. He suggested that while an airline could maximiseeach aircraft in its fleet, it could reduce routing of one of the aircraft so that it could be on standby, but it is a waste of resources to keep airworthy aircraft on ground from morning till night.

“What you have to look at is this. Liken this situation to owning vehicles. If you have 10 vehicles you pay insurance, vehicle licence, roadworthiness and others. These are standard expenses. If you bought that vehicle on higher purchase you will still be paying for it whether it is parked or not.

“In airline, you have 10 aircraft and you keep one on ground, you continue to pay for its insurance. If you leased the aircraft you will still be paying for the lease. You pay for all these while the aircraft is on ground. So you are not using the aircraft maximally.

“In scheduling you may reduce the rotation of one of the aircraft. For example, if you have 10 Boeing and each one operates eight rotation, you may have one that will do four rotations; so that when you have disruptions, you can deploy it to replace the one that has broken down,” he said.

Akinkuotu said it does not make sense to

keep one aircraft as spare because the airline will be losing revenue. But an airline can keep engine as spare if it can afford it; so if there is incident like bird strike, the airline can replace the engine, depending on the damage.

“It does not make economic sense to rest an aircraft, but you can minimize its utilisation,” he said.

He said that flight scheduling contributes to delays and cancellation; that is why scheduling is a very important job, remarking that good schedule plan must envisage possible disruptions and plan the schedule accordingly.

Akinkuotu said that having more aircraft benefits an airline because it maximizes its personnel and an airline ought to have more aircraft for robust profitable operation, suggesting that to maximise economy of scale, an airline ought to have about 13 aircraft.

The former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) also said that if a schedule plan were done very well it would pre-empt a situation where aircraft in the fleet is taken out for maintenance so it would plan to cover the absence of that aircraft.

“For example, if you have four aircraft and one is taken out for maintenance, there are two options; either you reschedule your flights or you lease an aircraft on short term to cover that slot. Ibom Air did something like that recently when its aircraft went for maintenance; it leased aircraft to cover the operations of that aircraft.

But what is important here is knowing that the aircraft is going for maintenance and rescheduling your operations.

“So you plan for the maintenance. Your engineers have the slot card, you secure slot with your maintenance company and ferry your aircraft there. If you don’t have efficient schedule plan, you will be in trouble. Schedule and maintenance is a critical department Nigeria Airways Limited,” Akinkuotu told THISDAY. Many industry observers say that many Nigerian airlines do not have efficient schedulers and therefore inefficient schedule plan and that has contributed to some of the delays encountered in their operations.

They noted that it is through proper scheduling that Nigerian airlines can efficiently service the daylight airports, which in many occasions have forced airlines to cancel flights when they realised they cannot operate to these airports after 6:00 pm.

They also observed that flights are tightly stuck together because airlines in Nigeria generally operate 6:00 a to 6:00 pm. After that period it is only Abuja-Lagos, Kano-Lagos; Abuja-Kano that can continue to operate, as THISDAY observed on Monday that flight operations continues into the night in Abuja till after 11:00 pm, but almost all the flights were destined to Lagos and Kano.

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T H I S D AY FRIDAYFriday MAY 20, 2022 May 20, 2022 Vol 27. No 9902 TR

See page 24 THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP ISMAILA UBA MISILLI writes that Muhammadu Yahaya is being rewarded for hard work See page 24 FAREWELL, ‘OJEMBA’ GAB OFOMA PAT ONUKWULI pays tribute to Ofoma, friend and colleague, killed by ‘unknown gunmen’ See page 25 ATHLETICS REBIRTH AND THE ABUJA SCHOOLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP AISSAC is poised at enhancing the country’s athletics prowess, writes KESIENA IGHO OGHOGHORIE See page 25 EDITORIAL TACKLING CHOLERA DISEASE IN NIGERIA

See page 26

& RE A S O

N

opinion@thisdaylive.com

www.thisdaylive.com

STANDING UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT Emeka Nwajiuba has what it takes to lead Nigeria, writes IBRAHIM AHMED

UT H

The president needs neither the electoral law nor the constitution to enforce political equity, writes BOLAJI ADEBIYI

BUHARI AND HIS SIT-TIGHT MINISTERS In an interview published by THISDAY yesterday, Olu Falae, former secretary to the federal military government and erstwhile presidential candidate of the defunct All Peoples Party, opined that governance was no longer going on in the country. In aid of his assertion, he called to witness the failure of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to protect the lives and property of Nigerians nationwide.

Falae said the obvious as he had himself been a victim of herdsmen’s kidnap and invasion of farms. As the former presidential FDQGLGDWH VSRNH 1LJHULDQV ZHUH ÀJKWLQJ WR VKUXJ RͿ WKH KRUULÀF NLOOLQJ RI 'HERUDK Yakubu, a part two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, who was stoned to death and burnt by her classmates.

That this manner of killing could occur in any part of the country in 2022 was shameful.

But more worrisome was the locus of the dastardly act: a citadel of learning whose products were being trained to mould the minds of future generations of Nigerians.

What was worse in the Sokoto incident was not only that an attempt by the state to bring to justice two of the many culprits attracted resistance from some youths who made the state capital ungovernable for a few days but also that the state government had FDVWUDWHG MXVWLFH E\ ÀOOLQJ D OHQLHQW FKDUJH against the apprehended perpetrators of the heinous crime.

Before Sokoto, two military personnel on their way home for their marriage in the South-east were apprehended by gunmen who murdered them in a pre-Stone Age fashion. No arrest has been reported to date even though it is obvious that there would be no consequence for that dastardly act.

Meanwhile, the entire South-east was held to ransom by non-state actors-imposed sitat-home for three days this week in protest of the continued trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Neither the states nor the federal government that has responsibility for security has been able to bail out the people whose means of livelihood have been persistently threatened for years by this disruption to economic activities in the region.

In the North-east and the North-west, terror gangs have held sway, practically unchallenged by the security forces which continue to insist that they are on top of the widespread insecurity that is ravaging the country.

Unfortunately, the advent of electioneering for the 2023 general election is providing a perfect distraction for both the government and the people. Interestingly the worsening economic stagnation, insecurity, unemployment, youth unrest, industrial relations crises in the tertiary institutions, and ethnic and religious strives have become electioneering talking points for the same politicians that created and exacerbated the

problems.

Last week, 10 ministers of the underperforming Buhari administration who had indicated an interest in the political contest in 2023 were excused by the president at a brief ceremony in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Following public pressure, the week before, the president had asked his appointees and public servants who had political ambitions to resign their positions by last Monday, promising to replace them promptly.

Buhari’s move, though a little late, was still a good one. Governance that many people had complained about was largely LQHͿHFWLYH DQG KDG DOPRVW EHFRPH JURXQGHG as many ministers and key functionaries of government abandoned their duty posts for politicking in pursuit of their 2023 ambitions.

However, the president’s action would seem to be half-hearted. Although four of the ministers were reported to have announced their resignation, only three, Emeka Nwajiuba, state for Education; Ogbonnaya Onu, Science, Technology and Innovations; and Godswill Akpabio, Niger Delta; actually resigned. The fourth one, Rotimi Amaechi, Transportation, who has gone on a full-blown campaign for the All Progressives Congress’ presidential ticket, said he would resign on Monday, one full week after the presidential deadline.

While four of the six others, Timipre Sylva, minister of state for Petroleum Resources;

Rather than promptly replace the ministers as promised, Buhari has kept mum, particularly about those who reneged on their resignation

Chris Ngige, Labour; Pauline Tallen, Women $ͿDLUV DQG $EXEDNDU 0DODPL -XVWLFH DQG Attorney-General of the Federation; have since revoked their political bids and opted to UHPDLQ LQ R΀FH DIWHU SUHVLGHQWLDO VHQG IRUWK the other two, Uche Ogah, minister of state for Solid Minerals; and Tayo Alasoadura, minister of state for Niger Delta; have been mum.

Rather than promptly replace the ministers as promised, Buhari has kept mum, particularly about those who reneged on their resignation. Lai Mohammed, his loquacious minister of Information and Culture, told news correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday that the fate of the sit-tight ministers would be determined by the president. As Nigerians awaited his determination yesterday, Garba Shehu, his media aide, said he had travelled to the United Arab Emirates on a condolence visit to the new President, Sheikh Mohammed Al Nahyan, whose predecessor, Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan, died recently.

Anyone who was in doubt about the president’s half-heartedness should have had that cleared by his Supreme Court suit against the National Assembly over the controversial Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 which forbids political appointees from being delegates or aspirants at party primaries. There were media reports on Monday that Buhari and Malami, the same PLQLVWHU ZKRP KH KDG VHQW RͿ KDG ÀOHG WKH suit asking the apex court to determine if the VDLG VHFWLRQ ZDV QRW LQ FRQÁLFW ZLWK VHYHUDO provisions of the 1999 Constitution as altered.

Clearly, the president’s persistent opposition to Section 84 (12) which in principle is similar to Section 66 (1) (f) of the Constitution that compels public servants to resign their positions 30 days before an election, betrays his sympathy for the ministers who are determined to eat their cake and still have it.

The mischief which Section 84 (12) of the electoral law intends to cure is similar to that of Section 66 (1) (f) of the Constitution as altered. It is that persons holding public R΀FH PXVW QRW EH DOORZHG WR XVH WKHLU R΀FH WR LQÁXHQFH WKH SURFHVV DQG WKH RXWFRPH of a political contest. The argument of the president that the controversial section RI WKH ODZ GLVTXDOLÀHV D FODVV RI SHRSOH LV therefore, lame in the face of Section 66 (1) (f) which already lays down the reversed discrimination principle.

What is more important, however, is that the president needs neither the law nor the constitution to realise the need for D OHYHO SOD\LQJ ÀHOG LQ D SROLWLFDO FRQWHVW and to accordingly seek equity for all the contestants.

Adebiyi, the Managing Editor of THISDAY Newspapers, writes from bolaji.adebiyi@ thisdaylive.com

2 24

T H I S D AY

Emeka Nwajiuba has what it takes to lead Nigeria, writes IBRAHIM AHMED

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FRIDAY MAY 20, 2022

ISMAILA UBA MISILLI writes that Muhammadu Yahaya is being rewarded for hard work

THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

- Aristotle, Greek Philosopher The utility of the above summation by the great Aristotle emphasizes the need for political leaders to, above all, recognize the prime essence of performance and excellence for posterity while in public office rather than being consumed by the flame and obsession of politics. This is indeed the disposition of Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya (Dan Majen Gombe). It is a well known fact that everywhere in the world, awards are given to individuals who have distinguished themselves either as leaders or professionals in their chosen fields of endeavours. Since coming into office, Governor Yahaya has received so many awards and recognitions, including that of Business Day, Blueprint and Daily Independent newspapers.

However, two of the most recent awards bestowed on him readily come to mind. These awards are the ones by Leadership newspaper which he personally received and recognized the Gombe State Governor as the 2021 Leadership Governor of the Year and Vanguard newspaper which declared Inuwa Yahaya as its 2021 Personality of the Year under governors’ category. Both high profile recognitions came almost in quick succession in brazen admittance of Governor Inuwa’s giant strides in the social, economic and infrastructural development of the state. So what are these clinical deliverables that the two national dailies saw in Governor Inuwa Yahaya to warrant the honours? For Leadership newspaper, the award was premised on the governor’s leadership acumen which has always been tailored towards repositioning Gombe State on the path of sustainable economic growth, rebuilding the state’s decrepit infrastructure, constructing roads which spread across the state, providing job opportunities for youths and women as well as empowering the people of the state with his agricultural transformation agenda. Leadership newspaper recalled that on assuming office on May 29, 2019, Governor Yahaya was not new to the challenges facing the state, having meritoriously served as the state’s Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development. He left no one in doubt that he already had his job well cut out for him: to propel Gombe State towards the path of rapid development.

The cumulative effect of Governor Yahaya’s prudence, leadership character and credibility is the coming of various development partners to the state, and the results are so far remarkable. Gombe is now the best state in the ease of doing business in Nigeria and has been adjudged the safest and most peaceful state in the North-East geopolitical zone. As for Vanguard newspaper, the tabloid recalled that after about 25 years of existence, Gombe State, the Jewel in the Savannah, is now clearly set on the path of a new dawn under a transformational leadership of Governor Yahaya. The current administration which ushered in the new era is barely two and half years old when the impact of transformational leadership began to gain traction while Vanguard Newspapers findings show strong foundation for a sustained growth across the socio-economic landscape of the state in the medium and long term. Vanguard maintained that most governance analysts have often excused many governments’ failures on the premise of the impact of COVID-19 on the national and sub- national economies, but Gombe seems to have created a different narrative; that challenges berth creativity and ultimately superlative performance. According to Vanguard Newspaper, Governor of the Year awards go to few selected state governors that managed to distinguish themselves in the circumstances of the operating environment. Vanguard Newspaper findings show that upon assumption of office, the administration was confronted with a treasury in

distress, burdened with about N124 billion in Loans/Bonds, Pension/Gratuity arrears and contractors’ liabilities. The fiscal stress could be gleaned from the recurrent obligations amounting cumulatively to about N900.4million monthly to service the liabilities. But the administration has gone ahead to demonstrate determination to achieve positive results. It is the usual practice for new administrations in Nigeria’s governance

space to abandon uncompleted projects inherited from previous administration, especially if the new administration is not an extension of the previous. But Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya chose the road less travelled. Determined to salvage and possibly turn-around the tax payers’ money into viable assets, the administration embarked on completing those projects. Already, the Mega Motor Park is costing the state about N3billion to complete and when Vanguard Newspaper visited the location, extensive work was ongoing to get the park ready for commissioning. The project was one of the several of such that compelled the current administration to draw up a well thought out robust financial plan to deal with the fiscal implications. Prior to the advent of the current administration, the 11 local government areas of the state had to borrow N1.3billion monthly to pay salaries. The Yahaya administration had, within the first three months of its coming into office, stabilised the LGAs financially and are now able to pay their salaries and pensions as at when due on their own. Governor Inuwa Yahaya also believes a good network of roads is critical to the economic revival and development of the state. Being an agrarian state in spite of the ongoing ambitious work to industrialize the state, we have come to see a new Gombe where the various parts are now well linked up via good roads, starting from the initial Network 11-100 Project, (100 kilometers of roads in each of the 11 local governments) to the mega revolution in the construction of over 150 other strategic roads across the state till date. Some of the road projects include: the 25km Billiri-Gujba road, the 15km Sabonlayi-Ayaba road, the 15km Ladongor-Fubawure road, the 17km KumoKalshingi road, the 10km Kutare- Mona road, the 10km Kundulum-Mallam Inna- Kurba road and the16km Marraraban-Jarkwami- Daniya roads as well as the Industrial Cluster road networks.

These projects have since been completed and are being enjoyed by the people.

The Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya administration also initiated and completed the 15.2km Jabba- Garin Wada, the 21km DegriTalasse and 16km Malala–Dukkuyel regional roads with the same funding.

Misilli is Director-General (Press Affairs) Government House, Gombe State

325

T H I S D AY FRIDAY MAY 20, 2022

AISSAC is poised at enhancing the country’s athletics prowess, writes KESIENA IGHO OGHOGHORIE

PAT ONUKWULI pays tribute to Ofoma, friend and colleague, killed by ‘unknown gunmen’

FAREWELL, ‘OJEMBA’ GAB OFOMA “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.” Isaiah 57:1-2.

Today, Friday 20th May 2022 relations, friends and well-wishers gather at Umunnealam, Umudim, within Nnewi commercial and industrial city of Anambra 6WDWH WR LQWHU RQH RI LWV ÀQHVW VRQV &KLHI *DE Ofoma who met his untimely, excruciating and harrowing death on Sunday February 20, 2022, in callous hands of “unknown JXQPHQµ DORQJ 8NSRU /LOX 2UVXPRJKX Azia-Mbosi Road that links Anambra and Imo States. He was on his way back to his base in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after visiting his hometown of Nnewi for the weekend. His only infraction was being driven in an SUV, therefore, he looked like a “big man” that must be slain. Sources have it that it is almost becoming normal for gunmen to kill individuals driven in high-end vehicles, especially those that are not accompanied by convoy of armed VHFXULW\ RSHUDWLYHV , ÀQG LW PHQWDOO\ GL΀FXOW WR UHFUHDWH DQ LPDJH RI KLV ÀQDO moments, the brief terrifying dialogue he had with his assassins and his unheeded pleas for mercy from men who have lost their humanity.

These demons, without batting an eyelid, ÀUHG OHWKDO VKRWV LQ H[HFXWLRQ VW\OH WKDW FXW short and ended an exemplary sojourn. So many innocent Nigerians have met and

many more may meet their premature end along this strip of highway. It is shameful and indeed embarrassing that nothing meaningful has been done to rid this place, well known to security operatives, of these undesirable elements who continue to cause mayhem.

Sadly, the parlous state of security situation in today’s Nigeria has meant that no one has been brought to book for this dastardly act. In my article “Anambra and Task before Soludo” published in Sun and Vanguard Newspapers of Thursday 10th February 2022, I nudged Soludo’s in-coming administration to prioritise containing the state’s deteriorating security situation. The poor security situation in the state and the entire Southeast zone requires drastic overhaul of the security architecture. It will pay no dividend attempting to reinvent the old security wheel currently on ground in the state which could not lighten the people’s burden. All manner of crime

is on upward trajectory with no sign of abating, especially escalation of intake of methamphetamine hydrochloride by many unemployed youths. Such rise in crime rate requires an out-of-the-way approach.

Town vigilante services should be restructured to be more involved as well as other neighbourhood watches. It is unbelievable and, certainly, unthinkable that my suave and genial senior colleague, who held the traditional title of “Ojemba Enwe Ilo, Nnewi” literally meaning a traveller has no enemies; would end up in the cold hands of unknown enemies whilst travelling back to his station.

Uncle Gabby, as I would call you, I am yet to come to terms with the appalling reality that you are no more. No quantity of words scribbled here or indeed voiced in any oration or tribute can adequately express my feelings at the creepy certitude of your unforeseen and untimely death.

The unfortunate and suddenness of your departure has left me devastated, dejected, depressed and indeed miserable. My sadness and heavy-heartedness are better imagined.

To say that Chief Gab Ofoma was DPRQJVW WKH UDUHVW DQG PRVW UHÀQHG RI mankind will be an understatement. In today’s world where loyalty, ideology, predilection and principle change ZLWK HDVH DQG F\QLFLVP ÁDWWHU\ DQG sycophancy the order of the day; Ojemba was an unwavering beacon of integrity and rectitude who made more friends than enemies. Adapting from Obama’s Eulogy for Beau Biden, Ojemba was someone who cared. Someone who charmed, disarmed, and put you at ease with his smiles.

I remember my last encounter with him in July 2021, I had called to say hello and he told me he was home at Nnewi. He invited me over and somehow, I forgot about the appointment.

Despite being my very senior he called to ÀQG RXW LI , ZDV VWLOO FRPLQJ EHFDXVH KH KDV been waiting. This was typical of Ojemba, down to earth, practical and realistic, and with no deceptions or pretensions. These marauders robbed our dearly beloved Ojemba the chance of growing old and WR KDYH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR IXOÀO VRPH ZLVKHV of a dying person. Some of these wishes $QJHOD 0RUURZ OLVWHG DV ÀYH WDVNV RI D dying man to include - apologising for past mistakes, forgiving others for their mistakes, thanking those people who matter most, saying “I love you” to those they love, and saying goodbye.

Without the opportunity to do these valuable things, one would have died ZLWK XQÀQLVKHG EXVLQHVV &RQYHUVHO\ -HͿ 0DVRQ LQ KLV UHÁHFWLRQV RQ ´'HDWK DQG Its Concept” asserts there is no method of getting to know death better, because death is mysterious and incomprehensible.

However, living towards death in time gives us direction and framework within which to understand the changes that life brings. Furthermore, for Plato WKH REVHVVLYH IHDU RI GHDWK FDQ DͿHFW WKH course of our lives. Ultimately, it is useful to think about death only to the point that it frees us to live fully immersed in the life we have yet to live.

Dr Onukwuli writes from Bolton, UK

ATHLETICS REBIRTH AND THE ABUJA SCHOOLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP Nigeria is on the verge of school athletics UHQDLVVDQFH $V SUHSDUDWLRQV IRU WKH ÀUVW edition of the Abuja Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Championship (AISSAC) proceeds at full throttle, students are buzzing with a new sense of hope and optimism in full expectation of changing the fortunes of athletics in Nigeria.

AISSAC is an innovative event scheduled WR EH D RQH GD\ ER\V DQG JLUOV WUDFN DQG ÀHOG competition between top secondary schools in Abuja, taking place on Saturday 4th June, 2022 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The track events include 100m, 200m, 400m, 4 x 100m Relay, 4 x 400m Relay and 4 x 400m 0L[HG 5HOD\ 7KH ÀHOG HYHQWV DUH WKH /RQJ Jump and Javlin.

The major aim of AISSAC is, essentially, to promote, build and enhance the country’s athletics prowess which, over time, has been on downward spiral. The last Olympic Games in Tokyo were emblematic of the decay, as Team Nigeria was only able to win two medals. The situation is indeed worrisome, given that Nigeria’s performance in Tokyo is the country’s best result for over a decade. Yet, whilst discussing the present state of athletics in Nigeria it is salient to steer the compass to the past, as it will aid in navigating the future.

What can history tell us? Nigeria used to be the powerhouse of athletics in Africa, harvesting medals, particularly in the 80s and 90s. There was the Ajayi Agbebaku’s triple jump bronze medal at the 1983 IAAF World Athletics Championship in Helsinki; Innocent Egbunike’s 400m silver medal at the 1985 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Rome; as well as Chioma Ajunwa’s long jump gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. There was also the Mary Onyali’s 200m bronze medal at the same Olympic Games, amongst others.

Yet between the late 1990s and now Nigeria’s athletic performance at the global OHYHO KDV EHHQ EHORZ SDU 7KH ÀQJHU RI blame is numerous, not least inadequate funding, late preparation, lackluster coaching, corruption, policy inconsistency, etc. The most fundamental of the lot however, is arguably the lack of an active school sports system.

School sports are the bedrock of any sports development programme in any nation.

Nigeria, during its glory days of athletics, had a very robust and vibrant school athletics system. There was, for example, the ‘Empire Day’ competition in the colonial era; the Grier Cup Competition in the Western Provinces in 1933; the Fisher Shield in the East, and the Hussey Shield athletics competition between teams representing the schools in the North and South of Nigeria, amongst others.

The numerous school athletics competitions at the time contributed, in no small way, to Nigeria’s success at the global athletics level.

Most of the student’s athletes who participated at the school competitions eventually went on to compete for the Nigerian Team. This is FRQWUDU\ WR WKH FXUUHQW VWDWH RI DͿDLUV ZKHUH there has been a huge decline in school athletics competitions. AISSAC however, signals the beginning of paving the path for re-negotiating the fortune of school athletics in Nigeria.

7KH EHQHÀWV RI FRPSHWLWLRQV OLNH $,66$& are well rehearsed, with each repetition further driving home its importance: It will, for example, help students develop personal and interpersonal skills and talents, and prepare them for the challenges of life. Young persons

will also be engaged and deter them from engaging in social vices, which has become extremely prevalent in recent times, amongst others.

Nigeria, like other developing countries, has struggled to expedite the pace of economic growth and development. Search light is continuously beamed on possible solutions to developmental challenges, with youth development being one of the powerful levers for sustainable socioeconomic development.

Youths, as per the 2019 National Youth Policy, are young persons between the ages of 15 and 29 years, while development is the act, process or result of developing.

Youth development, in a communal understanding, therefore means the process of preparing young persons for the challenges of adolescence and adulthood, so as to enable them achieve their full potential. It is promoted through activities and experiences that help youths develop social, ethical, emotional, physical, and cognitive competencies. Youth development is therefore a critical component in achieving sustainable development.

Thus given Nigeria’s status as the most populous country in Africa it, inevitably, has one of the largest concentration of youths in the world. Yet, the view is gradually being established that working hard is a sign of weakness, with the loss of all sense of productivity in the sense that commitment to duty does not pay.

There is therefore the need for the country to develop its youthful population, as the level of youth development is indicative of the quality of preparation a society is making for the future. One of the media, however, through which the numerical strength of the youths could be utilized, is sports.

Sports are a vital component of socioeconomic development. It is a medium to advance social cohesion and sustainable development. Sports contributes enormously to the growth of the service sector through the IROORZLQJ EHQHÀWV WKH\ RͿHU VRFLHWLHV MREV creation; incomes for clubs, sports personnel, and ancillary workers; tax revenues for governments; infrastructural development; promotion of political and social cohesion; enhancement of the images of countries; healthier citizens for higher productivity; and foreign exchange. This is in addition to the fact that sports are an important enabler to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is, therefore, very vital for the private sector and government to key into initiatives, such as the AISSAC, with a view to contributing their quota to the development of youths and by extension, Nigeria.

These times, clearly, calls for altruism.

Athletics is, arguably, one of the country’s major sport second only to football. Yet in an attempt to revive its fortunes, we have constantly been behind the curve, coming up with half measures that buy a moment’s calm. AISSAC is, therefore, on a mission to rev the idle engine of school athletics back to full speed.

Oghoghorie, Lawyer & Organizer, Abuja Inter-Secondary Schools Athletics Championship (AISSAC) 2022, writes from Abuja

4 26

T H I S D AY

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2022

EDITORIAL

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

TACKLING CHOLERA DISEASE IN NIGERIA The authorities must do more in providing clean water for the citizens

R

ecent statistics by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that Nigeria lost no fewer than 3,604 persons to Cholera, is to say the least, shameful. The report which ended the epidemiological cycle for 2021, revealed that a total of 111,662 suspected cases of Cholera were recorded in the country.

With Cholera, an under-reported disease, the FDVXDOW\ ÀJXUHV DUH OLNHO\ WR EH IDU KLJKHU 2QO\ Anambra, Edo and Imo States did not record any FDVH DW OHDVW R΀FLDOO\ while all 19 states in the north account for over 90 per cent of the suspected cases.

“We need to provide good water to prevent FKROHUD RXWEUHDNV DQG ensure that things we eat especially fruits are properly cleaned before we can consume them,” a United Nations Children )XQG 81,&() R΀FLDO DGPRQLVKHG Cholera, which often leads to the infection of the small intestine, is mostly contracted through GULQNLQJ RI FRQWDPLQDWHG ZDWHU DQG HDWLQJ of waste products. It is therefore a shame that 1LJHULDQV DUH VWLOO D΁LFWHG E\ VXFK D GLVHDVH LQ WKH age that we are in. But with the systemic collapse of critical institutions and basic health facilities in many of the states today, it is also little surprise that the country is made to spend more on the treatment of cholera rather than on its prevention.

For more than four decades, cholera has been a recurring disease in Nigeria and has led to the death of thousands of our people, especially FKLOGUHQ :KLOH WKHUH KDYH EHHQ VRPH HͿRUWV E\ WKH federal government to deal with the challenge, we have not seen a corresponding commitment from the state governments yet that is where the disease appears to be ravaging citizens the most. Since the ÀUVW FULVLV FRQFHUQLQJ WKH VSUHDG RI WKH GLVHDVH

begins with failure to provide potable water for their people, most of the governors should be held accountable for cholera prevalence in our country.

The spread of cholera becomes worse when the environment is not clean; when water is not treated DQG ZKHQ VDQLWDWLRQ LV QRW WDNHQ VHULRXVO\ 7KH VDG part is that in many of our states, rural dwellers are left to rely on streams as the only source of GULQNLQJ ZDWHU DQG WKHUH DUH QR SURYLVLRQV IRU disposing waste. In most cases also, the people even must rely on stagnant water for washing their clothes and other items.

Therefore, since cholera is more prevalent in rural areas, the problem becomes compounded when and where there are no modern medical facilities to assist in the treatment of the disease.

Besides government however, Nigerians should also not neglect the issue of personal hygiene. All they need to always do is simple hand washing before eating, after going to the toilet, and VKRXOG DOVR FRYHU WKHLU IRRGV DJDLQVW ÁLHV 6LQFH FKROHUD NLOOV ZKHQ D SHUVRQ ORVHV WRR PXFK ERGLO\ ÁXLGV VXFK GHDWKV DUH SUHYHQWDEOH LI YLFWLPV DUH TXLFNO\ UHK\GUDWHG $QG VLQFH QR YDFFLQH KDV EHHQ GHYHORSHG WR ZRUN DJDLQVW FKROHUD ZKDW LV FRPPRQO\ XVHG LV RUDO UHK\GUDWLRQ VDOWV 256 as part of measures to mitigate the problem. But prevention is still very much better than cure. To that extent, our rural dwellers and the urban poor should be taught the rules of basic hygiene.

The world has moved ahead of the era where FKROHUD NLOOV FLWL]HQV +HDOWKFDUH R΀FLDOV DQG RWKHU FULWLFDO VWDNHKROGHUV LQ 1LJHULD PXVW VLW XS to do the needful. Authorities in the 36 states must therefore do more in providing clean water for the citizens, especially for those in the rural areas. :H PXVW ZRUN WRZDUGV EDQLVKLQJ FKROHUD IURP Nigeria.

For more than four decades, cholera has been a recurring disease in Nigeria and has led to the death of thousands of our people, especially children

T H I S D AY EDITOR SHAKA MOMODU DEPUTY EDITORS WALE OLALEYE, OBINNA CHIMA MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR ISRAEL IWEGBU CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI THE OMBUDSMAN KAYODE KOMOLAFE

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

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

LETTERS CHALLENGES FOR NIGERIA’S NEXT PRESIDENT Nigeria is in dire straits! And this is not time to beat around the bush and challenge data and say everyone is lying because you want to spare their blushes. This is the time for serious and SHUWLQHQW LQWHUDFWLRQV 7KH HFRQRPLF LQGLFHV DUH VWDFNHG DJDLQVW use, the blue whale of corruption is vigorously disturbing our ship of state. Nigeria’s potentialities have just remained the VDPH LW·V OLNH UXQQLQJ D UHOD\ LQ UHYHUVH It is incumbent on the next President to understand the chalOHQJHV KH ZLOO KDYH WR GHDO ZLWK DQG ÀQG ZD\V WR WDFNOH WKHP 7KH QH[W 3UHVLGHQW PXVW GHDO ZLWK WKH VXEVLG\ LVVXH DQG PDNH a decision once and for all. We all agree that the subsidy bill is terrible. This year, we will pay N4 trillion we don’t have. I have DUJXHG UHSHDWHGO\ WKDW SD\LQJ VXEVLGLHV LV OLNH PDNLQJ D ERQÀUH with your life savings and singing “let it be’’ by the Beatles for good measure. The next President must be straight on what he will do as regards the subsidy issue.

7KH QH[W 3UHVLGHQW PXVW DOVR ZRUN RQ WKH 6WHYH 2URQVD\H report and bring about civil service reform. The era of a high cost of governance and recurrent expenditure will only send the

JRYHUQPHQW GRZQ DQ DE\VV RI QR UHWXUQ 7KH GHEW NHHSV SLOLQJ in administrative costs, when we can reduce cost with e- govHUQDQFH DQG IRU WKLV WR KDSSHQ ZH PXVW PDNH LQYHVWPHQWV LQ WUDLQLQJ DQG XSVFDOLQJ WKH FLYLO VHUYLFH WR PDNH LW ÀW IRU SXUSRVH The next president of Nigeria must target some growth and development presently with over 40 million Sme’s, the governPHQW PXVW WKLQN RI ZD\V WR VXSSRUW WKH VPDOO EXVLQHVVHV DV WKH\ DUH WKH UHDO GULYHUV RI WKH HFRQRP\ *HQHUDO 3DUN KHOSHG WKH Chaebols grow in the 60s and today they have created growth in the Korean economy. The next President of Nigeria must help VSXU HFRQRPLF JURZWK DQG OLEHUDOL]DWLRQ +H PXVW HQVXUH WKDW the business parameters always favour businesses.

7KH QH[W 3UHVLGHQW PXVW XVH WKH ÀJKW DJDLQVW SRYHUW\ WR WDFNOH insecurity. In Nigeria, there are too many have nots and when they see people stealing from government they get devastated.

6R WKH QH[W 3UHVLGHQW PXVW WDFNOH SRYHUW\ DQG ÀJKW LQVHFXULW\ in every part of the country. In a country with over 40 percent poverty rate, it becomes problematic to do anything meaningful DQG VXEVWDQWLYH :H PXVW RSHQ XS PDQ\ VHFWRUV OLNH WKH PDQX-

facturing and agriculture sector to provide jobs for a lot of people; we must encourage research and development and help our nation stabilize.

The next President of Nigeria must restructure. This concept of Abuja money must stop; it is an anathema to development and it is reason for a lot of strife. It is incumbent on the next PresLGHQW WR KHOS GHFHQWUDOL]H WKH FRXQWU\ EXW , NQRZ KH ZRXOG IDFH troubles from the hegemony that the Abuja structure favours.

But he must weigh the options of continuing agitations and see how to balance things out, but a reversal to the 1963 Constitution ZLOO OLIW D ORW RI EXUGHQ RͿ $EXMD DQG JLYH SRZHU WR WKH SHRSOH It is also incumbent on the people to demand accountability. The ELJ TXHVWLRQ +RZ FDQ WKH SHRSOH PDNH WKHLU OHDGHUV DFFRXQWDEOH" 0\ IHDU LV , KRSH SDUWLVDQ SROLWLFLDQV GRQ·W KLMDFN WKH UHJLRQV DNLQ WR WKH VTXDEEOH RI $NLQWROD DQG $ZRORZR LQ WKH V , WKLQN WKH QH[W 3UHVLGHQW RI 1LJHULD PXVW UHDOO\ JHW XS DQG EH counted once he gets in because the challenges are enormous.

Rufai Oseni, rufaioseni@gmail.com

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

27

BUSINESSWORLD

MARITIME

Digitalising Port Operations for Increased E f f i c i e n c y, R e v e n u e G e n e r a t i o n Without mincing words, there exist a cocktail of investment and business partnership opportunities begging to be harnessed at the nation’s seaports. Eromosele Abiodun writes on efforts by the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority to digitalize Nigeria’s port system for greater efficiency while also boosting nation’s economic diversification drive.

T

he Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) is currently undertaking several strategic actions and investment moves to establish a completely digital ecosystem at all the port sites in the country.

According to the NPA, this would help to promote smart port transformation with a focus on creating a paperless, time and cost-saving port operations. Needless to say, the benefits of digitalizing the nation’s port system cannot be overemphasised.

Ports and terminals are an integral part of the logistics value chain. Digitalization offers ports and terminals the opportunity to add value to its customers through innovation, enhanced productivity, greater efficiency, improved safety and security. For ocean freighters, it helps with real time communication with the port, ensures greater traffic and cargo control, faster, more efficient cargo tracking and inspection and provides accurate digital documentation, accessible from anywhere while for port operators, digitalization helps to achieve a streamlined, automated unloading and loading operations, improves greater control of containers, crane and cargo identification and improved on-theground operations. It can also facilitate logistic operations by ensuring complete monitoring and supervision of ground operations, improving real-time collection and dispatch management, always-on multi-site communication and flexible accurate digital documentation.

services which helps to enable business agility, efficiency driven productivity, cost reduction, improve user experiences that drive customer engagement and loyalty while providing end to end data related activities including data collection, real time transmission and distribution of data, data analysis and decision making.

Given that the port is a complex system, which consists of large number of companies and organizations, Bello-Koko believe the adoption and innovative deployment of digital infrastructure and technologies is essential to achieve seamless integration and information sharing in the port.

NPA’S DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT STRATEGY

CURRENT STATE OF NIGERIA’S PORT Nigeria currently has six seaports: Apapa and Tin Can in Lagos State, Onne and Port-Harcourts in Rivers State, the Warri Port and the Calabar Port, but despite boasting of these ports, only the Lagos ports are operating near full capacity. The Apapa and Tin Can Ports account for 70 per cent of imports on average as NPA data shows that the Onne port handled 80 per cent of Nigeria’s export cargoes between 2012 and 2017. Presently, cumbersome clearing processes as a result of the opaque methods employed by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has made Nigeria lose trans-shipment and transit cargoes to neighboring countries displacing Nigeria as the maritime hub in West Africa as majority of importers divert Nigeria-bound cargoes to neighboring countries due to the nation’s ineffective port system with the diversion resulting in a huge loss to Nigeria. Port operators have continued to express concerns over factors contributing to the high cost of doing business at the ports to include gridlock on the port access roads, Custom’s insistence on 100 per cent physical examination of cargo due to instead of scanners.

Approximately 99 per cent of Nigeria’s trade goes through its sea borders, meaning that the gate of the country’s trade with other countries rests on port efficiency hence, the move by the federal government through the NPA to fast track its digitalization process to get Nigeria’s port systems effective.

OPPORTUNITIES IN PORT PROCESS DIGITALIZATION Despite the pockets of challenges hindering the nation’s port sector, the NPA is optimistic that given the measures it has put in place and massive investments in port infrastructure, investors and stakeholders will have a swell time soon.

The Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko in his presentation at the World Ports conference held in Vancouver, Canada from May 16-18, 2022 highlighted the vistas of investment in infrastructure such as rehabilitation and renovation of port facilities and renovation of moribund port facilities, pointing out that there are opportunities for investment in Deep Seaports with facilities such as deeper draughts to accommodate larger modern vessels in line with global trends.

“For instance, the Lekki deep Sea Port which is set to be operational by the end of 2022 has a Dredging Depth of 16.5m Quay Length of 680m Breakwater of 1.909 metres, two Container Berths and one Marine Services Jetty and it is

Bello-Koko poised to handle containers, liquid and dry bulk. It is expected to commence operations in September 2022. There is also the Ibom deep sea port where work is ongoing and which is designed for very large vessels and would be a trans-shipment port as smaller vessel would also re-distribute cargo from the mother vessels lo smaller river ports closer to consignees within Nigeria and outside the shores of the country.

“For the Bonny deep sea ports with a natural draft of 17 metres 500,000 TEUS, land size 275.22 hectares, Quay Length of 2,206 metres and turning circle of 640 diameters the Bonny Deep Sea project is a Greenfield development project located at the southwest tip of the Bonny Island about 1.4km from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) site. This project is to be developed in two phases with an estimated total cost of $2 billion. The phase one development project which will be on a 1.5km land area competes of two 8,000 TEUS container berths, 100.000 WT General Purpose Berth 50 000 WT Oil Service Berth, Breakwater, Harbour Dredging and Aids to navigation amongst other distinctive features, “Bello-Koko stated.

The NPA boss added that the Badagry deep seaport, which is located along the 55km long Lagos Badagry Expressway is being developed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) and has a Quay length of 2 490 metres, natural draft of 16.5 metres, 149 hectares land area and is expected to have an annual throughput of 1.8 million TEUS at completion.

“The Full Business Case Compliance Certificate on the Badagry deep sea port and the modular floating dockyard was received in April 2022 and once Federal Executive Council approval is obtained, it would be ready for expression of investment interest with construction expected to commence by the fourth quarter of 2022, “he revealed.

He added that the NPA is open to partnerships capable of enhancing the nation’s efficiencies in the different areas of port process digitalization which include Revenue Invoice Management System Automation of all port access points (E-call up Electronic analysis of manifests, Truck traffic management systems, digitalization of documentation process: for better customer

service delivery Access to Lloyds Register & Vessel and Cargo Tracking and an Integrated Port Community System.

On the investment climate, the BelloKoko said Nigeria has been recording steady progress in the global index of doing business under the auspices of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), saying that NPA has continued to receive technical assistance from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to drive its automation port community system.

He also added that the NPA is promoting clear procedure and timelines with the port ecosystem through the development and launch of the Nigerian Port Process Manual, which is a detailed and graphic presentation of the harmonized Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of agencies involved with vessel arrival, boarding in the ports aimed at fostering enabling environment for domestic and foreign Port users while also adopting Public Private Partnerships as a veritable option for the provision of sustainable port infrastructure towards the achievement of Nigeria’s vision for economic renewal.

He said investment opportunities exists and are ready to be explored in Deep Sea ports/River Ports and Greenfield projects across the country with port support services which include Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), Integrated port community system, Independent Power Project (IPP) and haulage services and barge operation.

“We specially invite you to leverage on the comparative advantage of large cargo that our huge has bestowed by partnering with the NPA and the good people of Nigeria in developing the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa, “he said.

CONNECTING DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE Digital infrastructure comprises the physical and virtual technologies that are necessary to enable the use of data, computerized devices, methods, systems and processes. It includes digital communication and network infrastructure (mobile technology, IOT, 5G, Optical Network, Fibre Network, Virtual Private Network (VPN), computing power and data storage Data centers and cloud

In a bid to drive its digitalization port operation drive, Bello-Koko said the NPA digital infrastructure deployment strategy is out to ensure that the ICT deployment is aligned to the immediate and future business plan / strategy of NPA. “This is because we strongly believe in the idea that “digital technology is a means and not an end.” You need to redesign, re-engineer, simplify, harmonize and standardize its business processes, strengthen and streamline the Internal Business Processes (IBP) to support ICT deployment, phase ICT deployment geared towards achieving a fully integrated system with support for integration and to foster relationship with all internal and external stakeholders, deploy fit-for- purpose, reliable, secured and redundant software, network and hardware infrastructure.

“The strategy would also focus on ensuring the ICT deployment support and guarantee disaster recovery and business continuity, taking advantage of emerging technologies like cloud technology, Internet of Things (IOT) and Software Defined Network (SDN), ensure that NPA team (technical and functional users) are continuously trained to acquire the skills required to provide support to digital infrastructure deployments and strengthen ICT governance and project implementation practices, “Bello-Koko stated.

INTEGRATION WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS He added that the adoption and innovative deployment of digital infrastructure and technologies is essential to achieve seamless integration and information sharing in the port.

“In line with this, the Authority is spearheading the implementation of a Ports Community System that would facilitate this and integrate with the digital infrastructure installed by other major stakeholders. The IMO is consulting for the Authority, the first phase has been concluded, and the next phase of on-the-spot assessment by consultants nominated and paid by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will commence 1st week of June with the visit of the consultants to Nigeria.

“Considerations for the connection are the digital innovation affect the entire port community, each member is encouraged to prepare to take advantage of the digital innovation, evaluate the digital infrastructure installation by all stakeholders to ensure they can integrate, take advantage of improvement in internet connectivity in the country to facilitate the integration, work with Customs services, Other Government Agencies (OGA) and other stakeholders so that their existing system can be integrated to foster required inter agency collaboration, “the NPA boss said.

He pointed out that some of the challenges of connecting digital infrastructure include the multiplicity of digital installations by the stakeholders, budgetary constraints of port stakeholders, resistance to change and fear of the unknown, lack of trust in data storage and data sharing, unwillingness to re-engineer processes, the legal implication of digitalisation, the fear of breach of data security and skill development and capacity building.

Daunting as the this may seem, observation of goings on in the maritime regulatory agency even at quickest glance signals a ray of hope that merits a benefit of the doubt from the general public.

28

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

BUSINESSWORLD

AVIATION

Tackling Challenges of Airport Infrastructure Chinedu Eze writes that in the last three years the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has braced up to improve airport facilities to meet the demands of ever growing passenger traffic

T

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airport Council International (ACI) have projected that there would be tremendous passenger growth in developing countries, but the major challenge that the countries would face would be inadequate airport infrastructure.

ACI projected that eight of the 10 fastest growing aviation markets would be in Africa by 2034, disclosing that nearly 300 million passengers would travel to and from African destinations and as a result, the continent needs increased airport capacity.

ACI noted that growing affluence across Africa has definitely generated greater demand for air travel.

According to its records, in 2014, more than 50 million tourists travelled to Africa, making it one of the world’s most popular regions. The number was expected to increase further in 2017 and beyond with the help of a strong aviation industry and despite the negative impact of COVID-19 in 2020.

“The aviation industry has thus a dynamic and key role to play in accomplishing sustainable development in Africa and helping Africa “rise”. Airport hubs have become windows to the continent. But many airports were built in the 1960s and 70s. The ageing infrastructure is responsible for safety lapses, environmental pollution and flight disruptions. So the catch-up game that the African aviation sector has to play, needs to be done on the ground,” said Alexander Herring of ACI. This increase has been witnessed in Nigeria and in the last three years the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has been striving to expand and improve airport facilities to meet the increase in passenger traffic under Captain Rabiu Yadudu, the Managing Director of the agency.

Yadudu who was appointed to head the agency in 2019 was confronted with the Coronavirus pandemic and its effects in air transport in early 2020, less than one year he started work as the Managing Director of FAAN.

COVID-19 CHALLENGES

The devastating effect of coronavirus pandemic adversely affected air transport globally and Nigeria was not left out. International Finance Corporation (IFC) stated that airports are essential to the economic development of cities, countries, and regions. They directly contribute to economies by providing services to airlines, moving passengers, and transporting cargo.

The movement of goods and people also benefits governments, consumers, and industries.

However, the COVID-19 outbreak has hit airports hard—which could stall development in emerging markets.

“As a result, air travel has fallen sharply, which has prompted airlines to cut capacity. Many have been closed by governments to contain the spread of the virus. The result is a sharp fall in revenues. Given the importance of airports to the economic development of cities, countries, and regions, the broader impact of COVID-19 on the global economy is enormous,” IFC stated.

The global aviation industry was adversely impacted on by the spread of the virus, with the number of air travellers decreasing drastically within the period.

Statistics provided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) showed that more than 4.5 billion passengers travelled globally before the pandemic, but later slumped to 1.8 billion by the end of 2020.

FAAN’S EFFORTS

In Nigeria, the adverse effect of the pandemic on the Nigerian economy and subsequently on the nation’s aviation industry was tremendous. The airspace was shut in March of the same year for at least three months before the gradually reopening in June.

FAAN had to quickly upgrade facilities to accommodate the COVID-19 protocol. In the “New Normal”, departing passengers must comply with given guidelines; these

facilities were installed in all the airports starting with international airports. There was additional infrastructure, training of personnel and acquisition of new equipment to reflect the new protocol.

As airport manager, FAAN has the responsibility to ensure safety, security, procurement of stateof-the-art facilities, maintenance of equipment, training and retraining of its staff in all the 26 Federal Government-owned airports, while it also deploys its personnel to state-owned airports and airstrips.

Following the approval for the resumption of flight operations, effective July 8,2020; the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria released new procedural guidelines for air travelers and other airport users. The new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was aimed at protecting all stakeholders and preventing further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

REMITTANCES

The shutting down of the airspace inevitably gave raise to decline in financial performances of airlines, companies, agencies and especially FAAN, which has about 8,000 staff nationwide to cater for.

FAAN’s revenue generation plummeted because it was further impacted by the compulsory contribution of its 25 per cent revenue generation into the Federation Account.

Despite these drawbacks, the agency was able to earn revenue that enabled it to remit about N16.7 billion to the Federation Account in 2021.

In order to improve on its revenue and close all the possible loopholes, Yadudu deployed new, transparent strategies to monitor activities in revenue generating areas of the agency.

Addressing the Senate and House Committee on Aviation earlier in the year, Yadudu said, “The authority is taking steps to terminate nonperforming concession agreements and engage new concessionaires. We hope to make significant progress before the end of the second quarter.

Car parks automation at the various airports is presently going on, before the end of the year we should have achieved a great result.

“We commend the effort of the committees on aviation with respect to intervention so far in the recovery of Arik debts, inherited by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

However, we need further assistance to bring the issue to a logical conclusion as the huge debts are still outstanding,” the Managing Director said.

Yadudu also appealed for the stoppage of compulsory contributions to the Federal

Government’s coffers, saying that its suspension would be in compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) Doc 9562, so that money saved would be used to address some infrastructure gaps at the airports.

He had argued that one way to ensure development in the industry was to allow revenue generated by agencies in the sector to be ploughed back as it is obtainable across the globe.

The agency said that in order to reduce congestion at the Lagos airport’s domestic terminal, it had almost completed work on its expansion.

Yadudu disclosed that FAAN proposed a revenue budget of N188 billion for 2022, an increase of 50.4 per cent, compared to 2021, which was N125.4 billion.

Yadudu said though FAAN had no operating surplus, in December 2021, it remitted N16.7 billion to the Federation Account as contribution to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, despite the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic during the period.

He added that the agency had shifted its focus from the aeronautical sources of revenue to the non-aeronautical; in order improve its revenue performance.

In order to reduce traffic congestion at the Lagos airport’s domestic terminal, known as General Aviation Terminal (GAT), he said the agency had started rehabilitation of the facilities, which were already at 98 per cent completion.

Yadudu said recovery to pre-COVID levels in its revenue expectation might take about three to four years, saying the effect of the pandemic would likely be felt till 2024.

He said, “At the moment, passenger traffic is still about 56 per cent of pre-COVID-19 traffic.

Nonetheless, the year 2021 was a better year when compared with 2020.”

ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGES

In 2021, the FAAN Boss Yadudu automated many facilities at the Murtala Muhammed Airport’s Hajj/ Cargo Terminal Access Gate to properly monitor vehicular movement into the airport as part of reinforcing security at the Lagos airport.

FAAN inaugurated bird/wild life management equipment to significantly curb bird strikes, which has cost airlines humongous amount of money for engine replacement and other maintenance costs due to bird strike.

It trained and graduated about 67 Aviation Security Officers, after training on ICAO standard STP 123 Basic & Refresher Course to improve level of security at airports.

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja received additional seven co-buses with a 100 passengers capacity.

FAAN also took delivery of new VIP airside buses for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja in order to boost passenger facilitation on the airside to enhance passenger facilitation. It also rehabilitated restrooms at Nnamdi’s Azikiwe International Airport Abuja.

In response to complaints and reports of malfeasance among airport workers, FAAN set up a joint task force to stop extortion of air travellers and other corrupt activities at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

FAAN Managing Director last year held meeting with the airports regional managers and the Head of Departments (HODs) who met with their stakeholders then the agencies and the objective was primarily, to inform them that henceforth any violator of the regulations would lose his or her ODC (on duty card) “which means you lose your access card to the terminal.”

“And we agreed that once you lose your ODC at the airport, you will not get it back. If it is a company, we will advise them to get a new staff. If it is an agency, we will advise them to get another personnel,” Yadudu had explained.

The FAAN boss pointed out that any staff that misplaces his On Duty Card (ODC) would permanently lose his right and privilege to come to the airport terminal.

Adding that the management further agreed that all personnel working in the airport, either private or government should boldly write his or her name on the chest of the uniform for ease of visibility for easy identification.

The effort paid off because it drastically curbed extortion at the airports, especially as some illicit acts prompted immediate escalation by the authority and those involved were punished. Yadudu said the management would keep improving the rules and regulations at the airports to further strengthen the safety and security of the air transport system.

PASSENGER FACILITATION

For not meeting the conditions given in the agreement signed between the two, FAAN in 2021 terminated the services of SITA, which provides passenger facilitation, data and communication and replaced the company with RESA. The management explained that it opted for RESA Airport Data System when the former client was lethargic and could not migrate to the latest technology in the global aviation industry.

Though, the change came with some teething challenges for users at the beginning, especially airline operators, but Yadudu-led management was right with its choice as RESA, which improved service delivery from airlines and the travelling public across the country’s five international airports; Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt and Enugu. SITA only offered service to only Lagos and Abuja airports.

“So, anyway you look at it, we are in this business to get the best for our clients. We now have more airports coverage, facilities and more provisions and, of course, the contract is for 10 years and not yearly as we had it before with SITA. On the issue similarities or facilities, they are similar; very reliable companies. Our primary objective is to ensure that our passengers are safe and protected and because of one singular act, our safety is compromised,” Yadudu had explained.

Currently the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) also known as Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport 1 is being renovated and expanded from the agency’s generated revenue. The expansion is the brainchild of Yadudu and when the expansion project is completed, the terminal would have been enhanced in terms of capacity, aesthetics and passenger comfort, as the expected and expanded new lounges would be twice what are presently.

EXPERTS MOVE TO ADOPT NEW STRATEGIES TO BOOST POST-COVID-19 AIR TRANSPORT IN AFRICA which had been beneficial to the agency and the industry at large.

He said that apart from

saving the country capital flight, the domestication of the courses had also increased the number of personnel for

training, noting that the result of 18 months would have cost NCAA 10 years to achieve.

“Since November 2020, we

have domesticated some of the key mandatory courses of our inspectors. We have run over 400 courses in the last 18 months.

In the past, because foreign exchange is involved, you could not have sent more than 30 t0 50 people in a year. What we

have done in 18 months, would have taken us eight to 10 years to do and tremendous saving in foreign exchange.

food prices and reduced incomes.

“As of October 2021, over 3.2 million people were estimated to be internally displaced in northern states. Between June and August 2022, the number of food insecure is projected to increase to 18 million people, of which 620 000 are foreseen to face CH Phase 4 (Emergency) and 13 550 CH Phase 5 (Catastrophe).”

On the regional highlights for

Africa for cereal production, it showed that adverse weather conditions in North Africa and Southern Africa have curtailed 2022 cereal production prospects.

Meanwhile, cereal supply and demand brief with updated forecasts, pointed to a likely 1.2 per cent decline in world trade in cereals in the 2021/22 marketing year (July/June) compared to the previous year.

FAO: 18M NIGERIANS PROJECTED TO BE FOOD INSECURE BETWEEN JUNE AND AUGUST 2022 the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the report, West Africa - Sahel food insecurity is at unprecedented levels in most coastal and Sahelian countries.

“The number of food insecure people could increase above initial projections in the second half of 2022 as spikes in food and fuel prices, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, are likely to worsen access to food.

“Further aggravating risk factors to food insecurity are the high prices of agricultural inputs, notably fertilizers, persisting insecurity and forecast localized unfavourable weather conditions that could have additional negative impacts on agricultural production,” the FAO’s GIEWS alert stated.

This is coming as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is considered as a key factor that

has worsened food insecurity and increased the need for humanitarian assistance in all countries.

Also the report noted that as of October 2021, over 3.2 million people were estimated to be internally displaced in northern states of Nigeria.

The report maintained that latest CH analysis showed that about 12.9 million people were estimated to

be in need of humanitarian food assistance between October and December 2021 owing to the conflict in northern states of Nigeria.

The report said that, “latest CH analysis, about 12.9 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian food assistance between October and December 2021 owing to the conflict in northern states, localized shortfalls in staple food production, high

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

29

MILESTONE The Elegant and Resilient Portrait of Ngozi Ekeoma at 50 Vanessa Obioha reports that the 50th birthday party of the Managing Director of Nepal Group, Ngozi Ekeoma, was all shades of grandeur and elegance

D

o not be mistaken: the Managing Director of Nepal Group, Ngozi Ekeoma, knows how to throw a stupendous party.

If you were ever in doubt, her 50th birthday party at Harbour Point on Victoria Island, Lagos, was proof of her party-planning skills.

The hall was a continuum of elegance dripped in greenery, from the lush green carpet to the decorative plants perched on each table. There were also lit candles on the table, eliciting a celestial aura.

Like her 45th birthday themed ‘The Great Gatsby’, her 50th was no different. The dress code was ‘Met Gala’. Coincidentally, the Met Gala, a fundraising event by the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute in the United States, was held three days after her birthday.

Guests dressed gorgeously for the event.

Women paraded in long flowing gowns made of high-quality fabrics. While some kept their styles simple, others wore bold designs — a carnation here, a high thigh slit there. Some, however, aimed for shorter outfits. Some guests donned fashionable headgears.

The men were not left out in the fashion display. Not a few opted for the senator outfit, while others settled for dapper suits.

The birthday celebrator donned two outfits for the occasion. First, a Fuschia pink flowing gown and hair accessories that gave her a regal look. Her second outfit was a blue flowing gown with the hemline a mix of bright colours.

The menu was an eclectic mix — oriental and local dishes, choicest wines, champagnes and other beverages.

Not one to do things in half measures, Ekeoma ensured that the best in the music industry performed at her party. Therefore, guests were treated to soul-lifting songs from gospel artists Joe Praiz and Mercy Chinwo, while Flavour, who brought the party to a close, thrilled the audience with his flavourful Highlife tunes.

Some of the prominent names at the event include politician and businessman Ifeanyi Ubah, the past Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank, Nnamdi Okonkwo, veteran footballer Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, current Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, former governor of Anambra State and presidential aspirant,

Peter Obi, actress Rita Dominic, actor Kanayo.O.Kanayo, among others.

Beyond the display of grandeur, the celebration was a show of the resilient spirit of the celebrator as captured by the sermon of the President, Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) Rev. Benebo Fubara-Manuel.

The reverend’s message titled ‘Places of Sunset’ captured the difficulties one may experience in life and how it can be a place of renewal, assurance and revelation. The sermon subtly referred to the storm that rocked the Ekeomas last year when it was alleged that the Nepal Oil boss was fingered in a fraudulent transaction.

Echoes of God’s intervention in that trying period reverberated in the hall, particularly when Ekeoma gave her vote of thanks.

She reminded guests that God has always been with her, and the message from her devotion that morning was centred on her becoming a role model.

For that to manifest, she told her guests that God is about to make a lot of improvements in every area of her life.

Ekeoma’s life story has a grass-tograce ring. Born into a polygamous family in Aba, Abia State, she is the fifth child of her father and the third of her mother. At age 16, Ekeoma was married off and brought to Lagos for the first time. Although she is a mother of four children and grandmother of three children, there were episodes of darkness in her life. This much was revealed in a documentary reel where she shared moments when she was suicidal. But as always, God showed up in her life and held her through every storm.

As an unapologetic Aba woman whose skills lie in trading, Ekeoma never considered herself to be in the fancy professional fields of medicine or law. But again, Providence had charted a different path for her. Today, she has a diploma in Criminal

Justice Administration from the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and a Bachelor of Law degree from the same university. She has enrolled on an LLM course at the UNILAG intending to specialise in human rights and particularly women’s rights, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, Boston. She is also a member of the

Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators.

A go-getter, Ekeoma’s rise in the business world is characterised by humble beginnings. From retailing to supplying, she has emerged as a global industry player in the oil and gas, aviation, shipping, insurance, manufacturing, farming, transportation and logistics sectors.

She recalled being discouraged from venturing into the oil and gas industry.

“They told me no woman has made it there, and the only woman who has is of a high class,” she said.

Undeterred, she trudged on and today is recognised as one of the leading ladies in the sector.

At home, Ekeoma is a loving mother and wife. During his exaltation in the reel, her husband lovingly said if he ever had to act desperately, it would be for her.

Her children, too, extolled her beauty, love, care, intelligence and ambition. Although she acknowledged not being the best of wives, Ekeoma, in a show of appreciation, knelt and thanked her husband for loving her perfect imperfections unconditionally.

The greatest appreciation of the night came from the employees of Nepal Oil and Gas, who presented a Lexus SUV to the celebrator as a birthday gift. The twoday celebration culminated in a thanksgiving service at the Presbyterian Church in Yaba on Sunday, May 1.

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FRIDAY MAY 20, 2022 •T H I S D AY

This

Weekend TR

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

UTH

& R E ASO

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WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS Adesuwa Rhodes Listed Among Top 40 Black Women in Asset Management Globally See page 33

ETRENDS Overwhelming Crowd at 8th AMVCA See page 34

ART WEEKEND At New Rele Gallery, Contemporary Artists Converge for ‘Subtle Textures’ See page 35

LIFE Lucky Igbokwe: Charged to Clean up Abia See page 36

POLSCOPE Okowa, Successor and Election Blues See page 37

Group Features Editor: CHIEMELIE EZEOBI chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com

07010510430

Ebi Obaro: Making Global

Strides in Empowering Nigerian Youths

32

T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͮ, ͰͮͰͰ

COVER

Ebi Obaro: Making Global Strides in Empowering Nigerian Youths ÌÓ ÌËÜÙ˜ Ë ÍÏÜÞÓʨÏÎ ËØËÎÓËØ ××ÓÑÜËÞÓÙؘ ËØÎ ÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÙØÝßÖÞËØÞ ÓÝ ÞÒÏ ÌÜËÓØ ÌÏÒÓØÎ ËÚÖÏ ÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ËØËÎË ØͲ˜ ÞÒÏ ÐÙÜÏ×ÙÝÞ ÚÜÙàÓÎÏÜ ÙÐ ËØËÎÓËØ ××ÓÑÜËÞÓÙØ ËØÎ ÎßÍËÞÓÙØ ÙØÝßÖÞÓØÑ ÏÜàÓÍÏÝ ÓØ ÓÑÏÜÓ˲ ßÏ ÞÙ ÒÏÜ ßØÚËÜËÖÖÏÖÏÎ áÏËÖÞÒ ÙÐ ÏâÚÏÜÓÏØÍϘ ÝÒÏ áËÝ ËÌÖÏ ÞÙ ÌßÓÖÎ ËÚÖÏ ÓØÞÙ Ë ÐÙÜ×ÓÎËÌÖÏ ÍÙ×ÚËØã˛˿ ÓÞÒ ÙàÏÜ ͓͑ ãÏËÜÝ ÙÐ ÏâÚÏÜÓÏØÍÏ áÙÜÕÓØÑ áÓÞÒ ÝÞßÎÏØÞÝ ËØÎ Ó××ÓÑÜËØÞÝ ÞÙ ËØË΢ ÝÒÏ ÐÙßØÎÏÎ ËÚÖÏ ËØËÎÓËØ ÙÖÖÏÑÏ ËʰÏÜ ÍËÜÏÐßÖ ÏàËÖßËÞÓÙØ ÙÐ ÞÒÏ ÏâÚÏÜÓÏØÍÏÝ ËØÎ ØÏÏÎÝ ÙÐ ÓØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÝÞßÎÏØÞÝ ÓØ ËØËÎ˲ Ø˿ÞÒÓÝ ÓØÞÏÜàÓÏá áÓÞÒ˿Mary Nnah˜˿ÝÒÏ ÌËÜÏÝ ÒÏÜ ×ÓØÎ ÙØ ÒÏÜ ÍÙØÝÓÝÞÏØÍã ÓØ ÌßÓÖÎÓØÑ ËØ ÓØÞÏÜØËÞÓÙØËÖ ÌÜËØÎ ÞÒÜÙßÑÒ ÒÏÜ àËÜÓÙßÝ àÏØÞßÜÏÝ ËØÎ ËÖÝÙ ÙØ ÞÒÏ ÝÍÒÙÖËÜÝÒÓÚÝ ÝÒÏ ÓÝ ÙʥÏÜÓØÑ ÞÙ ÎÏÝÏÜàÓØÑ ÓÑÏÜÓËØ ÝÞßÎÏØÞÝ áÒÙ ÎÏÝÓÜÏ ÞÙ ÝÞßÎã ËÌÜÙËÎ What was the vacuum that you saw that gave birth to Maple Canadian College? t’s not by chance that I got involved in Canadian education. I didn’t stumble across it. My family comprising seven of us, five children inclusive, migrated to Canada 25 years ago. So, having had our five children go through Canadian education – some from elementary school and all of them through secondary school and university, in 2000 I had the idea of promoting Canadian education in Nigeria. The idea came from the fact that having had our children go through Canadian education; one could see the gap in the Nigerian education curriculum.

So we established Maple Canadian College (MCC) about 20 years ago to recruit Nigerian students to Canadian schools. Over a while, we discovered something about our Nigerian students which was that they were struggling in school.

The difference in the syllabus was beginning to show, especially in English and Sciences. We all claim that we studied English from primary school but there are a whole lot of differences when it comes to the quality of English that we know and then students had a lot of problems with their writing skills. So Nigerian students who got into Canadian universities found it difficult to write, and there is usually a lot of research and writing of papers they do. But today, our students find English different even though it was difficult for them in the first two years but now we have been able to get them to do very well in English.

Apart from that, Sciences and Mathematics were also difficult. I remember once when the then Nigerian Ambassador to Canada challenged me over 15 years, that why don’t we open a Canadian school in Nigeria so that Nigerian students at that early age, most of who are 16 years old, can do the grade 12 programme in Nigeria before going to university Canada because we could see a lot of them who were struggling and have become disillusioned; they were failing. And there was a lot of concern from their parents that their kids were not doing well and they could not understand why.

So, that challenge was there for so many years and at that time I didn’t see us having a school but a time came when we decided to do this, so we set up Maple Canadian College to bridge that gap between the Nigeria secondary school syllabus and the Canadian high school curricular.

Our vision is to become a model of innovative teaching and academic achievement across the world and our mission is to provide a world-class Canadian education to highly motivated students to set them on the best path to achieving their academic and professional goals in top choice global universities and colleges. So our certificates are not issued in Nigeria, they are from Canada.

I

If you were to chronicle the experience so far, how would you describe it?

The journey started seven years ago, first, we needed to get land and also build a purpose-built infrastructure that is world-class. That took a lot of courage to achieve. Once we achieved that, in 2019 we had our first set of students.

You know what it means to start a new business – there was this anxiety and worries about how it was going to turn out and if we were going to break even but the focus wasn’t the money.

The focus was on the benefits of bringing Canadian education to Nigeria at a much more affordable cost for parents and for also the children to get more mature before going thousands of miles away. We had a Canadian principal the first year. That cost us a lot but we had to do it. And we had 24 students in our first year.

I thought we would have more but I was told that school doesn’t start big but starts small and that the number we started with wasn’t bad. That gave us some comfort and we went on with that. Our entire students succeeded. They did extremely well. Some had an average of 92 per cent and above. They got into top universities and won scholarships. Canadian universities offer scholarships based on academic excellence, you don’t even apply for them. It is like they award you for passing their exams. We were very excited about this outcome.

The good thing about Canadian schools is that they give admission after the first semester. They don’t wait till the end of the programme. The first semester is five months so at the end of the five months, once we get their first semester results, we apply to universities, we get the admission, and we start their visa processing.

Almost all our students got their visas and for those who didn’t, we reapplied and they got their visas.

We had a 99 per cent success for Canadian visas while some went to the UK and America.

So the first year was very encouraging not only with the admission but with the visa success rate. In our second year, our number doubled. That was more encouraging. The same thing

happened as in the first year.

Our students did very well and got into various universities. Some got admission into six or seven universities. As I said, university admission in Canada is based on grades. They don’t care where you come from.

Our teachers, I must confess, caught on, understood the curriculum, and were able to teach it effectively because they were also trained from day one by our partner institution in Canada, Rosedale Academy, Ontario, Canada. They are trained physically here in Lagos.

This is our third set of students and over 90 per cent have already had admissions. We have started the visa processing and I believe that just like the set before them, they would also get their study permits.

What is your relationship with Rosedale Academy, Ontario, Canada?

You cannot set up a Canadian institution offshore without the support of another Canadian school in Canada. So, we had to partner with Rosedale Academy in Toronto to be able to set up this school here in Nigeria. What Rosedale Academy does is give us the curriculum, which is blended – it is blended in the sense that it is online. Every student here has a laptop. Our teachers physically do the teaching while they all have partner Canadian teachers in Canada, working hand in hand with our teachers in Nigeria to ensure that we meet the Canadian standard. Getting Rosedale Academy was the most difficult thing that we had to overcome before we started school. Our students’ assignments, tests, theses, and exams are not marked here. Our teachers in Nigeria only teach and make sure that our students understand, do their

assignments, and submit them to our partner school in Canada.

We gather that Maple College in collaboration with Canadian Universities has some scholarship opportunities for Nigerian students. How do people take advantage of this?

The first of these scholarships was offered to a student who got over $200,000 scholarship in a U.S university. So, this year, Maple Canadian College and its partner school, Rosedale are offering three scholarships – one full and two partial for students to study at Maple Canadian College.

The scholarship covers residence, meals, uniforms, and various other things. And it is worth over 20,000 Canadian dollars which is equivalent to about N6.6 Million. Then scholarships are for students who have finished grade 11 and want to transition into a grade 12 school or students who have already completed their year 12 and have finished WAEC and need to fill a gap before the transit outside of Nigeria or students who are finishing their grade 12 this year. So, it is not for pot-graduate students. Even if a student does not qualify to get the aforementioned scholarships, there is the possibility of them getting a scholar into any of the Canadian universities at the end of the programme based on their academic excellence.

In the previous year, students got over 600,000 dollars in scholarships, and this year, we have over 500,000 dollars in scholarships for the students presently in Maple Canadian College presently in different universities in the world. So this is an opportunity for a scholarship for Maple Canadian College or any of the universities around the world.

How have you been able to manage teenagers by moulding their character and intellectual considering the pressure that come with adolescence?

When you think of Nigerian education, we all know that there are gaps in the curriculum.

Sometimes you find out that the curriculum has nothing to do with reality. There is always the need to transfer what is learned in class to what is done in the real world.

That was really for us the greatest challenge.

Having to come here, go through the Canadian curriculum and then apply the knowledge, is the greatest challenge that they have had to overcome.

Another thing is that they haven’t learned how to do things timely, so when deadlines are set, there is usually a challenge to meeting the deadline.

These are the things they go through in the first few months, struggling to meet deadlines. When you miss deadlines in the Canadian curriculum, there is a penalty for it. You tend to lose marks once your deadline has passed. So, we had to get

them to understand the need to meet deadlines and ensure that their works are ready on time and that they had the privilege of showing their works to their teachers here in Nigeria before they submit them to their Canadian teachers.

They also had big issues with plagiarism. There is no framework put in place for plagiarism in the Nigerian curriculum. So, a child does not know that copying and pasting without citing sources is a crime whereas there is no tolerance for plagiarism in the Canadian curriculum and even in the western world and so they had a lot of academy integrity issues at the beginning and there are stages to handling those academic issues with Rosedale and the Canadian curriculum as they would usually begin to catch in on what is required of them within a few months here.

You mentioned that Nigeria’s curriculum does not meet up with standards. What are your suggestions on how it could be improved to meet the international standards?

It has also always been my concern. When a child passes through our Nigerian system and they go straight into a foreign university, they are faced with so many academic challenges out there and those were the major reason that Maple Canadian College was established.

Nigeria’s education system does not correlate with real life.

Unfortunately, everybody is passing through the same system, including teachers. And so the tendency is that the outcome will always be the same. The people teaching and those receiving end up the same. So there is a need for training. I am not in the school of thought that we should take up another person’s education system. I think that what we have is robust but we need now to put some extras at it – a review.

There is no time when we review and when even the review is going to take place, it is not done by educationists but by people outside of the education sector who have a clue of what is happening inside.

So if this review is going to be done and done with the intent to improve the outcome, then educationists need to sit down, look at our curriculums, look at real-life and find a way to put some balance into what the students are learning.

And then infuse technology. There is no education without technology, so we need to infuse technology from the grassroots – the primary so that they are not left behind because when they go outside, they are left behind. And a lot of students now do the extra. Those who want their children to study abroad, actually go the extra mile to do something more for their children, so that they are not left behind if they go outside.

That struggle will not take place if all these things were put together. So, a lot of training must be put in place for the teachers. But for the private school, I must confess that I don’t see a decline. I am seeing more of a push towards what is necessary.

On the other hand, the children in the public schools are the ones who are way behind and so government must, as a necessity, put things in place so that these children can leverage, and then there is no danger that one child is going full speed ahead while another child is left behind. That just determines where they end up. Government just needs to understand the place of education and put everything that it needs into it.

I also think that education has to be practical, related, and fun, so infusing technology into the curriculum, will go a long way in making students understand better what they are being thought. And the teachers have to be certified in specific subjects to be able to teach the students effectively.

Apart from the gab in the curriculum, this is the content; Canadian content is way more advanced than Nigerian content. Some of our students taking physics here are now looking at topics they didn’t teach in the Nigerian curriculum and imagine them going straight to the university in Canada to study engineering, just imagine what will happen.

The content and the way it’s being taught are all we focus on at Maple.

What competitive edge does Maple have over other Nigerian institutions offering the same services you do?

I am a Nigerian-Canadian. I have interests in both countries. A Nigerian goes to Canada to have a better life and also to ensure that our children get a quality education and that is the whole essence of this movement. Foreign education has always existed. I schooled in England in 1979 and it was not because the Nigerian education was bad then but some people just had the opportunity to study abroad.

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NEWS

AdesuwaRhodesListedAmongTop40Black Women in Asset Management Globally Stories Mary Nnah Another honour has been given to the investor, entrepreneur, and women’s empowerment advocate, Adesuwa Rhodes, founder and managing partner ofAruwa Capital Management, Adesuwa Okunbo Rhodes.

She was listed as one of the Black Women in Asset Management, BWAM, 40 under 40 lists of women committed to shaping the future of asset management.

The list celebrates inspiring Black women in asset management who have demonstrated leadership and strong achievements in their professional

careers.

Black Women in Asset Management is an organisation of professionals in the asset management industry-aligned around a common goal to advance and retain black women leaders across all investment strategies.

Also in February 2020, Adesuwa alongside other prominent women in the financial industry berthed 100 women in Finance in Nigeria aimed at harnessing the potential of women in the corporate world.

Elated Adusuwa in a statement made available to newsmen, expressed gratitude to (BWAM) just as she strongly advocated bridging

the inequality among women in accessing capital by having more women in investment decision-making roles.

She stated, “I am truly humbled and grateful to be recognised and to share the space with so many amazing women who are achieving great feats within the asset management space.

“Thank you Black Women in Asset Management (BWAM) for recognising the work we do at Aruwa Capital Management as we are committed to bridging the finance gap that exists for female entrepreneurs while showcasing the untapped potential that exists when women are capital allocators.

“The present imbalance in access to capital for women in Africa is having detrimental effects on our socio-economic development and one of the quickest ways to solve this problem is by having more women allocating capital and in investment decision making roles.

“Mckinsey tells us that there could be an additional $28 trillion in global GDP if the gender gap is bridged, but currently, only 1.3 per cent of the $69 billion in asset management is run by women and minorities.

I am excited to be playing my part to bridge this gap and be an example for others.

L-r: Principal, British International School, Lagos, Kevin Donnelly, and author, Lagos to London, Mrs. Lola Aworanti-Ekugo during the event

Lagos to London Gets International Acknowledgement The novel, Lagos to London, has officially launched into the global learning curriculum, starting with the British International School, Lagos. The signing ceremony which was held recently has proven to be a turning point in the academia and literary fields.

The curriculum which was designed around lessons shared in the Lagos to London novel seeks to empower learners with the mindset and skills essential for success as selfstarting individuals with the capability to lead themselves, engage with others, and uses these as means to build their life. This British International School, the first school to partner with the Lagos to London Team to pilot this global learning curriculum into its Personal, Health, Social, and Economic

Education will introduce the learners to diverse forms of learning designs including scenario-based learning, guided discussions, and experimental activities.

These active learning approaches will result in longerterm recall, synthesis, and problem-solving skills than learning by hearing, reading, or watching. The curriculum adopts the learning-by-doing model instead of the learningby-telling model and will run for a period of 6 weeks with the last week for learners’ presentations.

The curriculum signing event was hosted with more than 60 students in attendance, Ms. Jacinta Agim (Head of form 10), 6 instructors, and the British International School Principal, Principal Kevin Donnelly.

The launch began with the

Author of Lagos to London Mrs. Lola Aworanti-Ekugo introducing the vision, structure, and objectives of the course to the students which are self-leadership skills – where learners are taught to unlock their full potential with the ability to affect positive change, interengagement skills – learners are taught to cultivate authentic, interdependent relationships grounded in compassion, mutual respect, and cultural awareness, and Career Development – learners are taught to use their knowledge of self and decision-making skill to shape their career.

Speaking on the partnership, Principal Kevin Donnelly expressed his excitement about the British International School being the pilot school for this initiative and how this global

learning curriculum will help the students take ownership of their lives by building ethical values and developing their cultural awareness and decisionmaking skills.

He also affirmed that from the next academic session, this curriculum will be introduced to the lower forms.

According to Demilade Oluwasina, Founder of Learnible Global, the partnership experience on the Lagos to London Curriculum signing was extremely fulfilling.

He said, “the book is a rich body of work, packed with loads of personal and professional growth insights. It was great to collaborate with the Author to help transform those insights into practical application through Experiential Learning Design”.

Polo Luxury Launches Collection of Fine Jewellery in Partnership with GAIA AFRICA Polo Luxury recently debuted its collection of some of the world’s most desired fine jewellery pieces in an intimate gathering of jewellery aficionados, organised in partnership with GAIA AFRICA. Widely known as the Nigerian partner of some of the most preeminent luxury brands globally, Polo has become a reference point in West Africa as a purveyor of high-end Swiss watches and writing instruments. Now, Polo has painstakingly sought out major players in the jewel-

lery space to partner with and present to a discerning Nigerian audience.

These brands include Chopard, Messika, FerrariFirenze, Yoko London, and Tessitore1888, among others. With these additions to its portfolio, Polo Luxury has set the pace for the retailing of fine jewellery in Nigeria.

“Although sourced from different parts of the world, with their own unique stories, all the collections of these brands are defined by matchless standards

of quality and tasteful craftsmanship. Created with the rarest and finest materials and with strong brand names behind them, they are strikingly beautiful investment pieces that will stand the test of time,” Executive Director of Polo Luxury, Jennifer Obayuwana noted.

In attendance were a number of highly-accomplished women and tastemakers at GAIA AFRICA, an Africa’s premier private business club dedicated to serving Africa’s top female C-suite executives,

business founders, and seniorlevel professionals. Guests were encouraged to try on the exquisite jewellery pieces being showcased while being served Laurent Perrier champagne.

A few of the many favourites of the day were: Messika’s Lucky Move collection with vibrant touches of turquoise, lapis lazuli, and malachite; the “snake chain” tubogas craftsmanship of Tessitore1888; and pieces adorned with diamonds and deep blush sapphires from FerrariFirenze’s Spettinato collection.

STRENGTHENING CAPACITY OF CSOS TO BUILD INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES, INCREASE LEGITIMACY

The focus group discussions Chiamaka Ozulumba The Agents for Citizens-driven Transformation (ACT), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), recently strengthened the capacity of some select Civil Society Organisations (CSO) with the aim of enabling them build institutional structures to become credible drivers of change and sustainable development in the country.

Funded by the European Union and implemented by the British Council, the four-year programme started from 2019 and will end in 2023.

Already, ACT is currently working with CSOs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and nine states selected across the six geopolitical zones in the country. The states are Adamawa, Borno, Edo, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Plateau, Rivers and Sokoto.

According to the Component Manager, ACT programme, Hafsat Mustapha, although they had 200 CSOs receiving thematic support, they do not provide training to all the 200 at any one time.

Mustapha made this disclosure at the recent “Cross-State Regional Reflection for ACT” programme, held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, which started on May 16 and ended on May 17.

She said the ACT programme was based on how CSOs in Nigeria can help to translate capacity building to institutional building, as essential, to the sustainability of NGOs in the country.

“This will also ensure accountability, which increases the legitimacy of the CSOs with a focus on evaluation and documenting results that make NGOs successful.

“ACT is basically a CSO capacity building programme which started implementation in 2019 and will end the implementation program in 2023,” she said.

The manger said such trainings would help CSOs understand the complex regulatory requirements that enable them operate within the ambit of the law and also conform to the regulatory requirements.

“Not all organisation that are registered within the sector, are registered with the intent to drive the main purpose of why NGOs are established.

“So, for this reason there needs to be some kind of order within the system by helping civil organisations self regulate and make adjustments to their internal system and policy.

“This will also help them look at their financial processes, their strategy and training, helping them to build capacity and advocacy on topics to engage with communities and the media,”she said.

She also said that ACT selected CSOs from Rivers and Plateau for the training based on those working on all EU thematic areas which includes: health, education, resilience, climate change, nutrition, water and sanitation.

Mina Ogbanga, Chief Operations Officer, River State Network of NGOs said the impact from past trainings had enabled them work with the government to design and pass laws that would impact Rivers State and even Nigeria.

“We have moved to pass the Soot Bill, which we have been part of from the point of inception to the point of assent.

“The bill is one of the things that will affect our activities in Rivers State directly and that is one of the bills we have passed.

“We are also working seriously on passing the Climate Change Bill, which has passed the first and second reading and will go through due process before assent,” she said.

Mr. Duke Ogbureke, Director, Youth Adolescent Reflection and Action Centre (YARAC), Jos, Plateau said ACT had strengthened their capacity to work more efficiently and effectively.

“The training has helped us to be more focused and objectively driven in service delivery and the implementation of our projects,” he said.

The cross-state regional reflection offered the CSOs opportunities to share experience in developing their individual and collective capacity to become drivers of change in Nigeria During the workshop, the CSOs shared insights and lessons on how they can translate capacity building to institutional structure; how CSO accountability can increase legitimacy; why programme evaluation and documenting outcome results can make CSOs successful; and why stakeholder identification and influencing are important to project management.

The CSOs also shared personal experiences of their engagement with the citizens, government, and media, as well as their experience in ensuring gender and social inclusion and improving the regulatory environment for CSO work in Nigeria.

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E-TRENDS OV E R W H E L M I N G CROWDAT8THAMVCA Stories by Mary Nnah

The eighth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) reached its highpoint on Saturday, 14 May with an overwhelming turnout of guests.

A huge number of guests from across Africa came to witness the return of the prestigious award show after a one-year break.

Many visitors who came to witness the promotion, encouragement and recognition of African talents in the film industry organised by MultiChoice, owners of DStv, were seen standing despite the fact that the event was held inside the biggest hall of Eko Hotels and Suits, venue of the award night.

Winners were announced on the biggest and most glamorous night to celebrate African film and TV talent.

The movies, Rattlesnake – The Ahanna Story and Amina came tops with four AMVCA honors each with Best Director going to Ramsey Nouah for Rattlesnake – TheAhanna Story and Best Overall Movie to Amina.

In the public voting categories, Stan Nze clinched the award for BestActor in Drama while Osas Ighodaro won BestActress in Drama.

First time AMVCA nominees, Samuel Perry popularly known as ‘Broda Shaggi’ and Omowunmi Dada won Best Actor in a Comedy and Best Supporting Actress in a Drama respectively.

Producer, Rogers Ofime, also had multiple wins in the categories; Best Television Series for The Mystic River, Best Indigenous Language Movie (Hausa) for Voiceless and Best Africa Magic Original Comedy Series for The Johnsons.

MAVIN RECORDS CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY The management and staff of a popular record label, Mavin Records, are in an ecstatic mood as they celebrate the tenth anniversary of the company.

Founded by talented producer and singer, Don Jazzy, the label has been home to some of the country’s top artists, including Tiwa Savage, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, and more recently, Ladipoe, Johnny Drille, and Ayra Starr.

Aided by his cousin and Chief Operating Officer of the company, Tega Oghenejobo, the company has grown to become one of the most reckoned with in the music industry.

In 2019, as the world’s biggest labels started planting roots in Africa, Kupanda Holdings, a joint venture between pan-Africa investment company Kupanda Capital and TPG Growth, made an investment worth millions of dollars in Mavin Records. Following the investment, the label adopted a new name— Mavin Global— to reflect its new ambition.

Speaking at the time, Don Jazzy said, “Our mission is to grow Mavin Global into the music powerhouse of Africa. By collaborating with artistes, African creatives, and local and international partners, we can become a globally recognised household name and the go-to platform for connecting African music with the world.”

Outside its traditional offerings, the company also collaborates with creators across Africa to provide services in film and content production, licensing and publishing, and brand partnerships.

The label maintained that it is committed to continuing mentoring Africa’s future music business executives through its annual ‘Mavin Future Five’ leadership initiative.

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

…Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

With ‘Confam Gbedu’ at AMVCA, Pepsi Cements Afrobeats Vanguard Status Stories by Vanessa Obioha Nigerian music has undoubtedly come a long way. From the Afrobeat sounds of the Abami Eda, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the highlife sounds of Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, and Oliver De Coque, to the different sounds that make up Afrobeats today.

Each sound celebrates the culture and lifestyle of the people. And as Nigerians are known for their happy vibes and energy, brands are always using music to connect both existing and prospective consumers. However, one brand that has consistently used music not only as a source of entertainment but also as a unifying tool is Pepsi, the premium cola brand in Nigeria.

Over the years, Pepsi has shown its understanding and support for the Nigerian music scene through different campaigns. Who could forget Pepsi’s Disembaa campaigns in 2016, 2017 and 2018 with the themes Turn down to Turn up, ‘No Shakin Carry Go Disembaa’, and ‘No Chill Disembaa’ respectively?

Also in 2018, the brand launched a patriotic campaign tagged ‘Naija All the Way’. The TV commercial paraded the country’s biggest soccer and music personalities like Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Wizkid, Davido, DJ Cuppy, Tiwa Savage, Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, DJ Spinall and DJ Xclusive.

In 2019, the cola brand electrified the Afrobeats movement with the ‘We Got Taste’ campaign which clearly was evidenced in the number of live shows it supported

Rema and Lagbaja Confam Gbedu at AMVCA

throughout the festive season, including the famous American rapper, Cardi B’s visit to Nigeria where she performed at the Livespot X Festival.

There is hardly any part of the music landscape that Pepsi has not touched, be it sponsoring live shows or endorsing musicians. For more than a decade, the brand has consistently thrown its weight behind one of the most popular entertainment shows in Nigeria: Rhythm Unplugged, organised by Flytime Promotions. Since its inception, the brand has sponsored the music concert that usually parades the biggest Nigerian artists on one stage.

Pepsi’s unwavering commitment to promoting Nigerian music stars is also seen in individual concerts such as the Pepsi’s Wizkid Live concert.

The relationship between the artist and the brand continues to blossom

even after a decade. The brand seems to deploy a magic formula that has worked over the years. Some of the music superstars in Nigeria today like Wizkid and Tiwa Savage signed ambassadorial deals with the brand before they tasted international acclaim. This uncanny trait of Pepsi is proof of its foresightedness and belief in the Nigerian music industry.

It is also worthy to note that Pepsi over the years has helped in engendering the recognition DJs enjoy today. It was the first brand to sign DJs, placing them on a higher pedestal and expanding the music ecosystem As 2020 came with the pandemic, and crippled activities in the entertainment scene, the brand again, showed support by sponsoring the novelty club-like TV program on Africa Magic ‘Turn Up Friday’. The

D’banj, Rema, Goya Menor Serenade Guests at U.S. Mission Reception for the Headies

show served as a relief for Nigerians who were holed up inside during the lockdown period of the pandemic.

It was only a matter of time before many households began to look forward to Friday night when the OAP and hype man Dotun electrified the set with club-banging hits and DJ battles between up-and-coming DJs where the eventual winners were rewarded with a cash prize and a complete DJ set. Viewers were also encouraged to share videos of them dancing to the beats which were screened live.

Due to the popularity of the show, it returned last year for another exciting season.

However, this year, Pepsi pushed the envelope further by supporting the eighth edition of the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA).

The awards show known for fashion, lifestyle and the film and TV industry received an entertainment boost when Pepsi announced its ‘Confam Gbedu’ experience at the awards.

Indeed, it was a ‘Confam Gbedu’ when Pepsi ambassador, Rema, came on stage and performed alongside one of Nigeria’s best musicians, Lagbaja. Rema opened the set with ‘Addicted’ and ‘Are You There?’ from his ‘Rave and Roses’ album, setting the tone for the session. As the familiar sounds of Lagbaja’s ‘Gra Gra’ filled the hall, the audience stood and screamed with excitement. By the time the masked singer segued to another famous hit ‘Konko Below’, many began to sway their hips to the pulsating sounds.

AMBON DEMANDS JUSTICE FOR DAVID SUNDAY

Late David Sunday Daniel K

L-R_ DBanj_ U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard_ with Curator of Nike Art Gallery, Nike Davies Okundaye, during the Headies Reception in Lagos

Music stakeholders and guests who were at the U.S Consul General’s residence recently for a reception in honour of the 15th annual Headies Music Awards scheduled forAtlanta in September were treated to a musical ecstasy

by Nigeria’s music artists. D’banj, Goya Menor, Rema, and Teni, were among the performers of the night that highlighted the U.S government commitment to strengthening the burgeoning U.S.-Nigeria cultural ties through music, arts, film, cultural heritage, and professional and educational exchanges.

Of the artists, D’banj stole the spotlight with his set. Performing numerous hits including ‘Emergency’, the music artist got the Ambassador to Nigeria Mary Beth Leonard and Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery on stage dancing with him.

Applauding the growing cultural ties between both countries, Ambassador Leonard elaborated on the U.S.’s commitment in her

speech at the occasion.

“This year’s Headies awards will highlight the growing U.S.Nigeria ties and the vast potential of Nigerian musicians as cultural exporters to the African continent and beyond.

“The U.S. government has long recognized the role of music in diplomacy, with its emphasis on free expression, improvisation, and democratic and collaborative teamwork.

Executive Producer of the Headies Music Awards, Ayo Animashaun, noted that it’s the first year the Headies will be held outside of Nigeria. He described Atlanta as home to many prominent hip-hop and R&B artists and their record labels.

“The Headies recognizes outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. Our goal is to continue to support the development of talent and nurture innovation in the music industry,” Animashaun added.

DANIEL K. DANIEL RETURNSAFTERFOUR-YEAR HIATUS Following a four year hiatus in the United States to hone his acting career, Nigerian actor and winner of the 2016 AMVCA Best Male Actor, Daniel K Daniel, aka (DKD) is back in Nigeria.

Popular for his gutsy role of Bossman in 2015’s Frankie Ogar directed action drama, ‘A Soldier’s Story’, the actor was recently spotted on the red carpet of multiple high profile events including the Glo Battle of the Year, and the premiere of The Blood Covenant.

According to close sources, he’s already working on a few new projects that include ‘Dear Sister’, a film produced by Etinosa Idemudia; and the upcoming flick ‘Yellows & Blacks’ directed by Tchidi Chikere.

While away in the States, theAMAA 2016 Actor of the Year, was part of multiple film productions, teaming up with ace producers and veteran African actors in the diaspora and a few Hollywood productions including ‘The Drone that Stole Christmas’.

As far as reports go, It’s been rumoured that the prolific actor is set to feature in a Showmax original production.

As the outcry over the recent coldblooded killing of David Sunday, a sound engineer with Legacy Band in Lekki, Lagos continues to mount, the Association of Music Band Owners of Nigeria (AMBON) has expressed outrage. It joins well-meaning Nigerians to call for justice for the late sound engineer as well as two other members of the band, Philips Balogun and Olatunji Francis who were critically injured. In a terse statement signed

by Akinloye ‘Shuga’ Tofowomo of (Shuga Band), National President, AMBON called for sweeping actions to be taken by law enforcement agents against the perpetrators.

“The murder of David bears a direct impact on Lagos nightlife business and the safety of live bands professionals who are critical stakeholders in the growth of this subset of our creative economy.”

Furthermore, it commiserated with the family of Sunday comprising his young wife and two infant children while promising them the full support of the body. AMBON is currently reviewing the alleged rejection of late David and his two injured colleagues when they sought refuge under duress in the Beer Barn club premises. “We would not hesitate to declare an industry-wide boycott of their facility if found complicit,” they concluded.

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ART WEEKEND

…For pure art enthusiasts

At New Rele Gallery, Contemporary Artists Converge for ‘Subtle Textures’

CONSCIOUS ARTISTS IN NIGERIA RAISE CONCERN ON LEWD MUSIC

Away from the trim view at its former Lagos Island exhibition space, Rele Gallery has upscaled the visual art experience with the new space in Ikoyi and an inaugural exhibition titled ‘Subtle Textures.’Yinka Olatunbosun writes

R

ele new art gallery has changed lanes: first, at Lagos Island, now at a bigger space in Ikoyi. The gallery is exhibiting a sublime array of art collections from contemporary artists from Kelani’s artistic statement on social and political events to Papa Omotayo’s architectural full fledged real drawings to the ethereal smoke drawings of Sedireng Mothibatsela.

The group exhibition titled, ‘Subtle Textures’ featuring works by six artists namely Temitayo Ogunbiyi, Osi Audu, Annick Kamgang, Sedireng Mothibatsela, Kelani Abass and Papa Omotayo, explores the generative qualities of drawing and line in creating composite forms and spheres of knowledge. The exhibition, scheduled to last for five weeks, is targeted at attracting arts lovers to appreciate arts collections from Nigeria and Africa.

The founder of Rele Gallery, Adenrele Sonariwo, a Nigerian art dealer said the move to a bigger space became imperative as their former place at Onikan became too small for the art shows.

In her words, “This move is reflective of our goal and we wanted a much bigger space, our former space at Onikan is narrow and smaller. Our artists now have an opportunity to explore bigger space and it really helps the depth of their works as well. We are also growing; it’s been seven years.

We love Onikan, it will always be a home for us.

Ruggedman in performance

Yinka Olatunbosun

An interior view of Rele Gallery in Lagos

“The artists are the reason why we are moving; we are inspired by them. The patronage is important too. Our mission from the beginning is that we want to trigger a new audience, more people appreciating arts from Nigeria.”

Adeoluwa Oluwajoba, the curator of the show remarked that the title, ‘subtle texture’ was chosen for the group exhibition due to the form of artistic works the space represents. He added that the works were not particularly new, some of the works he said are old art works except for the new medium which they occupy now.

“Subtle texture was particularly

obtained from this artistic fluid process. Drawings come in different forms like sketches and actual full-fledged drawings.

Looking at the idea of drawing on a fluid medium thinking about the gallery space itself.

“The works are not particularly new. These are works the artists have for quite a while but some of the works are recent works. We are not talking about newness in terms of work but the medium.” he stated.

The young artist also shared his journey into curating and how working in different space has exposed him to a lot of contemporary Nigerian artists.

“After the exhibition I want to engage more artists in more diverse media and materials.

We are looking at showcasing more paintings, experimental works just to see how far we can push criticality in contemporary Nigerian art. It has been an interesting one because initially I set out as an art writer, it’s been a little tasking. Working in different spaces has exposed me to a lot of artists especially in Lagos. There are a lot of vibrant contemporary artists and engaging with these artists has exposed me to different parts of contemporary arts.” Oluwajoba said.

At NIBF 2022, Stakeholders Call for Govt Support for Book Industry, Fight against Piracy Yinka Olatunbosun The three-day traditional feast for book lovers, Nigerian International Book Festival (NIBF) 2022 edition came to a wrap last week with stakeholders urging the government to support the book industry and be more aggressive in the fight against piracy. Held at Harbour Point Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event which had as its Chief Host, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu as its chief host, was indeed a potpourri of activities. School competitions, authors’ groove, panelists’ discussions and of course, the exhibition of a wide range of books at an adjoining wing to the main auditorium were part of the highlights of the literary feast.

In his welcome address at the NIBF International Conference, the Cross-section of panelists at the NIBF conference Chairman, Nigerian Book Trust Fair, Mr Gbadega Adedapo called on the Nigerian Copyright Commission, an elaborate enforcement mechagovernment to strengthen the book John Asein revealed that there are nism for online infringement as industry with policy formulation to on-going efforts at improving the well as stiffer sanctions for criminal mitigate the economic strain on the nation’s copyright legislation with infringements,’’ he disclosed. book ecosystem. a new Copyright bill.

During the panelists’ session, “Raw materials for book production “Some of the new issues ad- discussants blamed the strength are now very expensive and we hereby dressed in the bill include the of piracy in the book industry on appeal to the Federal to assist our sec- right of remuneration for some the weak infrastructure, stating tor with special fund and adequate categories of copyright owners, that Nigeria lacks the facility and support,’’ he said. special exceptions for the visu- capacity to publish large volumes During the keynote address with ally impaired and print-disabled of books- hence pirates fill the void. the theme ‘Copyright & Sustainable persons, provisions concerning The NCC boss suggested that the Growth in the book ‘Ecosystem: Setting technological protection measures, attack on piracy should be a publicANew Agenda,’ the Director-General, rights management information, private collaboration between the

commission and the stakeholders while educating the public on the economic implications of copyright abuses and their roles as citizens in driving the solutions.

A performance poet and seasoned art journalist, Akeem Lasisi spiced up the conference with his poetic interlude on the theme ‘Copyright’ using a blend of English and oral elements of Yoruba poetry to reiterate the warning message against patronising stolen intellectual works.

The April edition of the Unchained Vibes Africa (UVA) tagged Democracy Vibes summit at Freedom Park, Lagos, was again another type of town hall meeting of conscious artists. With the theme ‘Regulation of Musical Works on radio and TV: MattersArising, ’three artists – Irawo Drumline, Myke Pam and EedrisAbdulkareem, a radio DJ, Mr. Raymond Bola-Browne, an art journalist and writer, Mr. Anote Ajeluorou, engaged in conversations that stemmed from the popular culture and its influence on the young audience.

The session, moderated by ace radio broadcaster Funke Treasure-Durodola, had in the audience young undergraduates, mostly from the University of Lagos.

In his intervention, Bola-Browne remarked that the over-commercialisation of airwaves

by DJs, who insist that artists must pay them money before their music can be aired, is to be blamed for the poor judgment in choice of playlist. It is widely believed that commercial success often eludes artists with clean lyrics and often, new artists follow the template of success in popular music. Citing the example of the singer and self-acclaimed ‘Number one African Bad girl,’ Tiwa Savage, he revealed that the singer made her entry into the Nigerian music scene with clean music, but later switched to lewd lyrics, having been heavily influenced by the trend of semi-nudity on screen.

While calling for a rebirth of interest in wholesome music, Bola-Browne argued that it is possible to sell clean music successfully citing the example of Tuface Idibia who has blazed the trail for over two decades without obscene lyrics or music videos. Furthermore, panelists mulled the role of corporate sponsors in promoting indecent content.

Female drummer, Oluwakemi Famugbode (aka Irawo Drummer), revealed how women are exploited sexually in the creative industry as they struggle to have their voice.

“Once you take your music to them, what they first see in you is your private parts,” Famugbode said. “A music promoter once told me, without even seeing my music, that we need to ‘collaborate’ in all areas, so he can fully promote me to as high as can be.”

In her view, the attitude of DJs towards female musicians is capable of driving away female artists to the point of abandoning their music talent entirely.

For Ajeluorou, a lack of proper education is to blame for the poor lyrical content that morphs into obscenities and lewdness that characterise most music and musical videos today.

Reggae artist, Pam, on his part, argued that Nigerian music lost its course when musicians shunned the wholesome reggae music. Pam said there is need for all parties concerned to make concerted efforts to clean up Nigeria’s music for the better.

The rapper, Abdulkareem recounted the true story behind the hit track, ‘Mr Lecturer.’

The song which would become an anthem for sexual harassment is based on a true life experience. He had encountered a victim who was trying to escape sexual advances from a lecturer and decided made a move to rescue the young lady.

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Lucky Igbokwe: Charged to Clean up Abia Mayor Lucky Igbokwe is a United Nations Mayor for Peace and Founder, Don Lulu Foundation. The Abia-born entrepreneur and entertainment icon, who is popularly known as Don Lulu, recently threw his hat in the ring to run for governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to holistically reposition the state for economic prosperity by creating the enabling environment for industries to thrive. Other thematic areas that he intends to revive include l education, technology, security, tourism, transportation and agricultural sectors. Pledging to ensure a thriving creative industry, while empowering women and youths, Igbokwe also intends to escalate the commercial viability of Abia markets to unprecedented new levels, as well enhance the road networks, which all put together will make sure Abia occupies its rightful position in the comity of states. Recently, his governorship ambition received a big boost following a high profile endorsement by the Ozoigbondu of Igboland, Prince Arthur Eze, writes Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo

A

ll eyes are on Abia as preparations for party primaries nears feverish pitch. Both indigenes and residents of Abia as well outsiders are looking forward to the emergence of a person who would get the state on the right traction after long years of inertia.

In fact, everyone knows that things are not working well in God’s Own State hence the expectation that change would come with the 2023 governorship election.

Among Abians who are very much concerned that the state is not doing fine and needs a radical push to start accelerated development is Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, the Abia-born entrepreneur and entertainment icon, popularly known as Don Lulu.

He is among the governorship aspirants gunning for the ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His ambition to preside over the affairs of Abia received a big boost recently with the support and backing of oil mogul and renowned philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze. This has been described by analysts as the game-changer given Eze’s record of successfully making kings out of most aspirants or candidates that got his endorsement at every election cycle.

Prince Eze holds the title of Ozoigbondu of Igboland which was bestowed on him by Igbo traditional rulers in recognition of his numerous philanthropic activities within and outside the South-east region.

He has not only endorsed Igbokwe’s governorship ambition but specifically sent him on a mission. He charged him “to go and clean up governance in Abia”. Like many others, Eze is unhappy that Abia has suffered from long years of decay and leadership failure.

He believes that Igbokwe, who has emerged as a frontline governorship aspirant of PDP has the capacity and well defined goal to effectively clean up the mess in Abia.

The Atlas Oranto Petroleum boss bared his mind on Abia’s bad condition when Igbokwe paid him a courtesy visit at his Abuja residence.

He expressed his displeasure at the deplorable condition of infrastructure in Abia and called for a leadership change.

He urged the Abia governorship hopeful to use his exposure and age advantage to rewrite the history of the state and make it the pride of Abians and the South-east zone in general.

Not only that, the 2018 Zik Leadership Awards winner in the business category, promised to give Igbokwe all the necessary support to enable him succeed in his quest to better the lots of Abia people who have suffered long period of neglect in the hands of successive administrations in the state.

He said he was excited and happy to see a prosperous young man like Mayor Igbokwe take up the challenge of the leadership question in Abia State, saying that he (Mayor Igbokwe) stands a better chance to clinch the seat while urging him not to relent in his efforts to pick the PDP governorship ticket.

Eze praised the exploits of the late Dr. Michael I. Okpara in the Eastern region and hoped that another Ohuhu-born leader in the person of Mayor Igbokwe would reinvent the Okpara years in Abia when elected governor. He told the young governorship aspirant to push ahead in his mission, pledging that he would support him to emerge victorious at the poll.

The famous Anambra businessman has been a strong pillar of support not only to the PDP, but to other parties and politicians as well. In the South-east political economy, he is a powerful force to reckon with and highly sought after by both investors and politicians alike.

In his response, the PDP governorship aspirant thanked Prince Eze for the warm reception, and promised not to disappoint him and others who are hopeful that his decision to join the gubernatorial race would bring about the muchdesired turnaround in the fortunes of Abia State in 2023.

The United Nations Mayor for Peace and

Igbokwe and Prince Arthur Eze at a private meeting in Abuja Founder, Don Lulu Foundation stated that he came to solicit for the support of the Ozoigbondu in his desire to become the next governor of Abia. He said his decision to offer himself to serve Abia was informed purely by altruism and concern about the development of the state.

While promising to deliver, Igbokwe expressed genuine concern as a youth who has been involved in many youth development initiatives and cares about their future, pointing out that he has come to redeem the state and make sure workers salaries, pensions and gratuities are made

priority.

Igbokwe means business. He has already put his hands on the ploughshares and there’s no going back At his official declaration on May 10, 2022 held at the PDP secretariat in Umuahia, a mammoth crowd was there to attest to his popularity, which is still growing.

In his address titled ‘My Decision To Join The Abia Governorship Race’, Igbokwe expressed his zeal to get his dear state on its feet.

He said: “My decision to run is borne out of hunger and desire to add value and impetus against the backdrop of the yearnings of the entire people of Abia State, who believe

“My team and I are ready to turn around the fortunes of the state by revolutionising all the sectors of governance with focus on the masses...I will reposition Abia for economic prosperity by creating the enabling environment for industries to thrive, with a better approach to internally generated revenue that would reduce dependence on federation allocations”

in the youths as an option and to take Abia to the much desired place occasioned by their cries and wishes for good governance, inclusiveness and ensuring that Abia takes its rightful place in the comity of states.”

He said that he has answered “the calls from stakeholders, including the downtrodden, traditional rulers and eminent sons and daughters of Abia State, and (decided) to take up the gauntlet, to stand in the gap to shield our people from any form of hopelessness.”

The high-riding entrepreneur pledged to run a people-centred administration that would create wealth, bring prosperity to the masses and put smiles on the faces of distraught Abians.

“My team and I are ready to turn around the fortunes of the state by revolutionising all the sectors of governance with focus on the masses.

If given the PDP ticket and elected governor, I will reposition Abia for economic prosperity by creating the enabling environment for industries to thrive, with a better approach to internally generated revenue that would reduce dependence on federation allocations.

“Education will be one of the major objectives of my aspiration, the sector will be reformed to include not only building of schools, but also the provision of incentives to teachers.We’ll revisit the farm settlements, improve and empower the youth in particular and our people in general, through agriculture, the creative industries will receive massive boost under our watch.”

He promised to exploit to the fullest all the inherent economic potentials of Abia, saying, “Tourism will be made more attractive and visitors will come to experience our beautiful cultural heritage and sites.

“We’ll escalate the commercial viability of our markets to unprecedented new levels with improved infrastructure and security. Abia will become the ICT hub in West Africa during our tenure.

“We shall enhance the road networks and improve transportation. We are very committed with passion to make sure that Abia occupies its rightful position in the comity of states in the country. “ We are determined to replicate in Abia State the record of achievements of our hero, late premier, Dr. M.I. Okpara in the defunct South Eastern region of Nigeria. We plan to explore all the areas of possible economic prosperity and development without exploiting the people. God’s Own State, Abia, is blessed with abundant natural and human resources,” Igbokwe added.

Igbokwe who is determined to lift Abia out of infrastructural decay and hopelessness, acknowledged that Abia has not been getting it right bearing due to absence of visionary leadership.

“What we need is the right leadership, a candidate with good character, great antecedents and who is popular, if PDP needs to put its best forward for the poll and if it is serious to retain the seat in Abia.

“I, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe is the right person and the best hand for the job. I have consistently proven that with my track record in philanthropy, business and human capacity development. My footprints are everywhere in the state despite coming from Abia Central. I urge you all to come to the table and let’s take Abia to the most enviable heights we desire. I pledge that nothing short of this will happen. I want us to know that the confidence in me is a confidence of hope, the future, the success, the restoration and the freedom from fear.”

Igbokwe has not left anyone in doubt about his readiness for the contest having consulted widely and visited all the local government areas of Abia State to engage with the delegates and stakeholders ahead of the party primaries.

His candidature has received wide acceptability especially among the youths, women and grassroots, who have identified with his aspiration and also among the elderly men and women who believe he represents fresh hope. They asked him to come and rescue Abia.

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T H I S D AY ˾ Ͱͮ, ͰͮͰͰ

POLSCOPE

withEddy EddyOdivwri Odivwri with eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com,0805 0805306 3069356 9356 eddy.odivwri@thisdaylive.com,

Okowa, Successor and Election Blues With barely a year to go, this is the period footballers would describe as injury time.

It is a time when players get desperate to score goals and change the narrative of the game. That is perhaps the same approach the Delta State governor, Dr Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa is applying to the governance of Delta State. He is a system personality, having been in and out of government for years. Once, he was a local Government Chairman in his native Ika North-East Local Government Area.

He had been a commissioner of Health, a Secretary to the State Government (SSG), a senator and now a governor, serving out his second term. There were plans for him to join the presidential race, but that got stopped, for now.

By May 29, next year, he would have served out his second term as governor of Delta State. It is natural and normal for him to be concerned about who succeeds him.

But Okowa often feigns indifference on this crucial issue. At most public ceremonies, he’d claim that whoever will succeed him is in the hands and workings of God. While he puts up this “God-knows” approach, he is busy working on the system to produce his chosen favourite, a certain Sheriff Oborevwori, the sitting Speaker of the State House Assembly.

Honourable(?) lawmakers did not consider anything, fiam, they chorused a yeaaaaaaa, like a people seized by opium concentrate.

N182 Billion loan in five months, at the dawn of electioneering season! We do not need political soothsayers to tell us that most of the loan will be used both for politics and illegitimate “sign-off benefits”

W

FOGGY BANK LOANS Recent revelation will explain why Okowa will be more disposed to an Oborevwori than any other person. Reason: Oborevwori has long been the required ally, if not accomplice, in the several financial deals and dealings of the state. As the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Oborevwori has been like a legislative stooge of the governor, who, like a pawn on a chess board, is moved anyhow to achieve an intent. By Oborevwori’s subservient disposition, the state House of Assembly is practically in the pocket of the Governor. Were it not so, an Assembly alive to its work and worth will not approve a set of three fat loans in just five months for purposes that are as foggy as harmattan haze.

On Tuesday December 14, the State House of Assembly approved a loan request of N20 billion from Fidelity Bank. The claim is that it will finance the five percent equity of the state in a UTM Offshore Liquefied Natural Floating gas project. This is suspicious. The said company is not only a novice in such a project, the entire ownership structure is itself foggy. The said five percent may have been the equity of an individual, not a state. We have had an example like that with the Midwestern Oil and Gas, under the administration of Governor James Ibori. Who are the owners of the so-called UTM offshore Gas project? Were Deltans told? There are no details and explanations. Even the House of Assembly members do not understand the “coded” intent of the loan, yet, pronto, they approved it.

Two months after, on Tuesday February 15, 2022, (day after St Valentine celebration), Okowa came again with another loan request, this time, N12 billion from Zenith Bank Plc. And without a debate or critical thinking, like a people under fetish manipulation, the House of Assembly approved the loan. The explanation is that the loan will be used to pay contractors of different projects in the state. Really? Three months after, how many such contractors have been paid in the state?

Yet, they call him Roadmaster. Hey, where are the roads?

And cashing in on the ease of approval, the governor came, yet again, this time for the final hit: a loan request of N150 billion! Yes, N150 billion! Again, without a debate of any sort or inquisition, the House of Assembly, on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, approved the loan with a voice vote. Have you noticed that all the loans were approved on Tuesdays?

This time, the narrative behind the loan is that some N20 billion will be used to off-set pension funds, and another N10 billion will be given as grant to the “Bureau of Local Governments” (whatever that means) to reduce “whatever outstanding and negative impacts they have…”, according to the state Finance Commissioner, Fidelis Tilije,…. What does all that mean?

Do we need to borrow money to pay pension arrears? Is it not a contributory pension scheme? Where is the part the workers contributed while in service? Is it for the government’s part that the loan is being sought?

Many pensioners in Delta have been languishing in poverty and needless difficulty.

Many have even died. For more than seven

A NEW SHERIFF COMETH? The Speaker of the State Assembly is Hon Sheriff Oborevwori. He appears to be tipped to succeed Gov Okowa. Apart from the sickening collaboration with Okowa on the ruinous financial deals in the state, one other sustaining credential of this sheriff is that he has “street integrity”. What does that mean?

It is not more than a decorated euphemism for a tout. The Oborervwori is said to have been the Man Friday to the late Friday Ani, who died in a plane crash years ago. The Ani himself was a near terror star in his time, as he was a thorn in the flesh of security operatives as well as the government of James Ibori. At his death, Oborevwori ascended and found his way into politics and then elective position, which today has placed him as Speaker of the House of Assembly.

In the years he has presided over the state as the Speaker, we cannot remember any outstanding piece of legislation from the House. With him, there are no memorable quotable quotes. All is grist in his mill. But the same weird politicking that pushed him thus far, seems poised to project him to the number one seat of the state.

That he is an appendage of the governor is not hidden. How can a responsible House of Assembly, whose main duty is to ensure “check and balance” grant everything the governor asks for—be it wise or foolish? To this Sheriff, everything is politics and politics is everything. Such a mindset is dangerous.

Here is a man whose credentials have been a huge subject of controversy.

I care little about that. What else is in his profile that qualifies him to be a Delta state governor? Have we degenerated that low as a people?

Gov Okowa

years, pensioners have not been paid a dime. But Okowa pays out billions every month to the nearly 3000 Personal Assistants (PAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) he appointed, many of whom he neither knows nor sees. One of them, a young kinsman of the governor, has literally become the de facto governor claiming and exercising so much power, and lately said to be acquiring lots of prized properties in Asaba, Agbor and Lagos. Majority of the aides are completely idle as they do not even have any office anywhere, yet they get paid heavily every month.

But the senior citizens who laboured to serve and set up the state are left to die in penury and anguish.

Assuming all the above reasons are legitimate and deserving, that will be N30 billion. Okowa will be left with N120 billion out of the N150 billion. So, what will this be meant for? Will it be for the same contractors for whom N20 billion had been borrowed last February?

Pray, where are these so-called projects in the state? I was in Delta State earlier this month. The only thing noticed in Asaba, the state capital, is the very well done drainage system that should stem the malaise of flooding in the state capital.

In many other parts of the state, nothing is happening anywhere.

THE 14-YEAR-OLD ROAD PROJECT Almost like the Lagos-Ibadan dualization road project which every succeeding federal government claims to be diverting loans and grants to its execution, the Delta State government has got its own equivalent of Lagos-Ibadan Express road construction project.

The Ughelli-Asaba road project which was awarded on November 14, 2008 at the initial cost of N51.3 billion, has become a faithful cash cow from which every suc-

ceeding government in Delta State must “cash out”. It seems it is now the turn of Gov Okowa. Were it not so, normal human beings would wonder why 14 years after, a 162.27-kilometer road stretch will remain uncompleted in a top oil-producing state.

Fourteen years on one road! Haba! Even if the state government is only able to finance one kilometer of the road work in one month, it would have long finished the road. But here we are, seeking to plunge N120 billion into a project that was initially awarded for N51.3 billion!

Those who collected government money and abandoned the projects are neither being prosecuted nor in jail. Some of them are still friends of the occupiers of the Government House. Even now, the road will still not be completed, with or without the loan. The heist continues unabashed.

The lousy argument of the state government is that the loan has to be taken now so contractors can be mobilized to site before the rains fully come. Really? They talk as if we are all half-brained people. Okowa has been in office for nearly seven years now. Why is this thought of completing the legendary Ughelli-Asaba road occurring to him only in the twilight of his leaving office?

The so-called loan, described as “bridging finance” from Zenith Bank (owned by Okowa’s kinsman), is taken in lieu of the N270.6 billion the federal government is owing the state from over-charged 13% derivation funds for oil-producing states. The FG has been owing this money for ten years. What is the guarantee that the Buhari administration will regain its economic gait to be able to pay the debt in these “hard times”? If the FG couldn’t pay ten years ago, is it now that the debt will be paid? If the state defaults in repaying Zenith Bank as at when due, what are the fines and other implications? What is the interest charged on this loan? What are the terms and conditions of the loan? Our

A MESSY NURSING EXAM Some two months or so ago, the state government conducted a state-wide exam to admit students into the state’s Nursing schools. It was competitive. But it soon became an avenue for corruption. Government officials were falling over themselves to fight for candidates whom they gave varying bills to get assisted in gaining admission. This is also what happens during employment opportunities. Young graduates literally buy employment letters. Many of the officials found to have compromised themselves in the Nursing School Exam, had actually sent their bank account details to the candidates for payments. The monies paid were found in several accounts of government officials.

There was a threat to deal with the situation.

As is often the case, that was the end of the matter. Nothing happened thereafter. Or so it seemed. It became an admission for the “connected”, not the qualified. How can we grow with a system like that?

THREE UNIVERSITIES AT A GO In March last year, the state government announced the establishment of three universities at the same time, having secured the nod of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).

They are the Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba, University of Delta, Agbor and Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro.

Although many had hailed the courage and the initiative, some others are worried that establishing three universities at the same time in a state that already had its own state University (Delta State University, Abraka), plus a College of Education (in Warri), Polytechnic in Oghara.

While it looked good and great on the surface, it is tasking for a state government. Yes, education is key, but it is more important to provide quality education and work out ways that can meaningfully engage the products of the schools. It is not enough establishing schools all over the place, a thought must be spared on where the products can work. Where are the companies and establishments that can employ these products? If less-endowed states like Akwa-Ibom and Cross River can establish industries, companies and other going concerns that can provide job opportunities to young graduates, where are the Delta equivalents of these companies? Unless a thought is spared towards this, education will soon be seen by the youth as a frustration.

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ MAY 20, 2022

38

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

Heifer Boosts Tractor Financing with Additional $3.5m James Emejo ÓØ ÌßÔË

International development organisation, Heifer International yesterday announced an additional $3.5 million in funding for its tractor financing initiative in Africa.

The funding boost came barely two weeks after it committed $1 million to the launch of Hello Tractor’s innovative Pay-As-YouGo (PAYG) tractor financing for agri-entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

The additional financing brings Heifer’s investment in catalytic funding for tractor financing in Africa to $4.5 million, a development that is expected to speed up the pace of agricultural development on the continent.

Announcing the additional financing during a parley with journalists in Abuja, President/

Chief Executive, Heifer International, Mr. Pierre Ferrari, said, “Increased mechanization – and tractors in particular – are vital as smallholder farmers scale up their production and build profitable and sustainable farming businesses.

“We are particularly impressed

by Hello Tractor’s Pay-As-YouGo tractor financing model – an innovation that emerged from the AYuTe Africa Challenge, an agritech competition for young entrepreneurs run by Heifer International.”

Earlier at a stakeholder forum in his honour, Ferrari said he was impressed at the enthusiasm shown by smallholder farmers, booking agents, tractor operators and tractor owners to transform the agricultural landscape in Nigeria and other African

countries. The new capital injection will finance an additional 75 tractors across Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda and will provide affordable access to tractor services to 872,250 smallholder farmers at an affordable rate, boosting farm productivity, employment, food security and farmer livelihoods over the next ten years.

The investment will create 6,979 new jobs as booking agents, tractor operators, technicians and tractor owners over 10 years.

According to Ferrari, “Africa has the lowest number of tractors per farmer globally and as a result, yields per hectare are low. Smallholder farmers do not have access to tractors and that’s something we aim to change. We encourage our partners and the donor community to join Heifer International on this journey.”

Berger Paints’Shareholders Approve Dividend, Applaud Management Elated Shareholders of a leading manufacturer of coated paints, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc have unanimously endorsed the 40 kobo dividend per ordinary share proposed by the company’s board for 2021 financial year as they expressed optimism in the company’s future performance.

The company’s revenue was up by 29 percent from N3.83 billion in 2020 to N4.96 billion in 2021. The Gross Profit inched up by 12 per cent fromN1.41 billion in 2020 to N1.58 billion last year. The after tax profit of N135, 635 million as against N146,028 posted in 2020 was moderated by the high cost of doing business. Despite this, the company declared a gross dividend of N115,929,379, which translates into 40 kobo per share to reward its shareholders.

Shareholders generally commended the company’s Board and

Management for declaration of dividend despite the high cost of doing business in Nigeria under acute insecurity, forex scarcity, energy crisis, stagflation, low purchasing power of consumers and other macroeconomic vagaries.

A shareholder and the Immediate Past President, Nigerian Shareholders Association, Chief Timothy Adesiyan, said the company’s ability to pay dividend this year indicated its passion for shareholder value. Adesiyan explained that the company’s performance was excellent against the background of the harsh operating environment.

He commended the Board and Management for upholding the tenets of corporate governance.

Corroborating him, another shareholder, and National Coordinator, Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mrs Bisi Bakare, expressed confidence in

the Board and Management that the company had strong capacity to move to generate more shareholder value, regardless of the nature of the operating environment.

The company’s Chairman, Abi Ayida thanked the shareholders for appreciating the Company’s efforts and assured them that measures had been put in place to enhance the Company’s competitive edge. Abi noted that the current performance indicated resilience, signaling a brighter and future.

“These numbers achieved in one of the most difficult years in the company and the country’s recent history is a demonstration of the resilience of your company. We have straightened our business continuity measures, diversified our supply chain options, reinforced our succession planning process whilst focusing on eliminating wastages, ”said Ayida.

Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to IOPC Fund Esther Oluku The federal government has reaffirmed it’s commitment to the implementation of the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund through enforcement of guidelines for registration and collation of receipts of remittances made by oil transporting ship owners and receivers through the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Speaking at the 7th Meeting of the Sub-Committees of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund

in Nigeria, the Secretary of the National Standing Committee, Mrs. Aishatu Jiddah, noted that since the inception of the meetings by the Sub-Committees, the deliberations of each plenary had yielded positive results.

According to her, the meetings have furthered “the review and approval of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by the IOPC Fund Secretariat, developed an action plan for the SOP and facilitated the implementation of the terms of reference for the Sub Committees”.

Jiddah noted that the SubCommittees have worked together with the NSC to domesticate

action plans to strengthen the cause of the IOPC Fund locally.

In line with this mandate, Jiddah announced the fusion of two of the existing five subcommittees at the 7th plenary which held in Lagos on the 18th and 19th of May 2022 to aid effective delivery of it’s functions.

She said, “There was a directive from the Chairperson that the Sub-Committee on Identification of Receivers of Contributing Oil and the Sub-Committee on Compilation of Contributing Oil Reports should be merged. So instead of five Sub-Committees, we have four Sub-Committees.”

RED’s Culture Intelligence, University of Sussex Release Nigeria Market Sentiments Report Culture Intelligence from RED in partnership with the University of Sussex has released the Nigeria Market Sentiments and Study Motivations Report 2022.

The report was part of its commitment to help brand managers, policy makers, and culture enthusiasts understand prevailing trends with a view to making informed decisions.

Conducted by the brand and market intelligence unit of RED | For Africa at the instance of the University of

Sussex, an award-winning research and development focused institution, the report examined issues surrounding Nigerians studying abroad — especially in the United Kingdom — in the years following the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The study polled over 4,000 teens, young adults, and adults from the six geo-political zones of Nigeria with active interests in studying beyond the shores of Nigeria.

“The UK/Nigeria study motivations report is the first indigenous report that looks

deeply into the issues that influence people’s choices regarding the institution they intend to study,” said Isime Esene, Chief Intelligence Officer at RED | For Africa.

Senior International Officer (Africa & The Middle East), University of Sussex, Tosin Adebisi noted that the study was aimed at providing stakeholders on both sides of the spectrum — prospective students and international institutions — a treasure-trove of useful data and insights that are crucial to decision making.

From left; President/CEO, Heifer Int. Nigeria, Pierre Ferrari; Board Chairman, Randi Hedin; Senior Vice President, Africa Programs, Adesuwa Ifedi; top members of staff and tractor beneficiaries during the announcement of 3.5 million dollar additional funding for tractor funding in Africa in Abuja...recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

JANUARY 2021 Money Supply (M3)

38,779,455.43

-- CBN Bills Held by Money Holding Sectors

1,039,129.55

Money Supply (M2)

37,740,325.88

-- Quasi Money

21,779,302.69

-- Narrow Money (M1)

15,961,023.19

---- Currency Outside Banks

2,364,871.13

---- Demand Deposits

13,596,152.06

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

7,414,275.50

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

31,365,179.93

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

42,916,586.63

---- Credit to Government (Net)

12,304,773.44

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

0.00

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

0.00

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

30,611,813.19

--Other Assets Net

3,892,112.74

Reserve Money (Base Money

13,264,585.14

--Currency in Circulation

2,831,167.19

--Banks Reserves --Special Intervention Reserves

10,433,417.96 317,234.17

˾ ÙßÜÍÏ ̋

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

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

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

˾ ÙØÏÞËÜã ÙÖÓÍã ËÞÏ ̋ ͯͱϱ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT WEDNESDAY MAY 18, 2022

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $117.20 a barrel on Tuesday, compared with $113.07 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).

39

T H I S D AY ˾ ˜ Ͱͮ˜ ͰͮͰͰ

Shareholders Applaud ABC Orjiako, Retires as Seplat Chairman after 13 Years Kayode Tokede It was a harvest of praise by representatives of Nigerian shareholder groups who were at Seplat Energy Plc 9th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos on Wednesday, as they lauded Dr ABC Orjiako who retired after 13 years as the board chairman of the leading energy company.

Speaking at the AGM, Ayo-

dele Kudaisi of Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN) who tagged her comments as validiatory/ recommendation said, “As the saying goes, there’s nothing that has beginning that doesn’t have an end. It is so painful to all shareholders that you have to leave at this point in time. You have done so well and so much for the entity called Seplat Energy.

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

“You and your team have taken Seplat to an enviable position among all its peers, with resiliency, commitment, focus and unsurpassed objectivity. You have come, you have seen and you have conquered. We are definitely going to miss you here, but don’t be too far away from Seplat.”

Also speaking, National Coordinator, Independent

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

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Dr, Anthony Omoniyi Omojola said, “That Seplat Energy Plc is a reliable energy company with limitless potentials is not a mere statement. This has been aptly demonstrated in our performance in the 2021 annual report and accounts we are considering.”

President, Noble Shareholders Solidarity Association

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

(NSSA), Matthew Akinlade, said, “This is a unique occasion that one must commend the Board and Management of the company for stellar performance. I felt highly impressed the kind of progress. The turn around of the company this year to significantly improved profitability and what you are doing to take the company to higher heights especially the acquisition of Mobil Producing

O F

Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU).”

“This is my last AGM as your chairman. Now that I have climbed the iroko, I have fetched all the firewood. I’m very happy that I have been associated with the company in the last 13 years. It has been a good journey. It is the real actualisation of good dream that was supported by the people Seplat has,” Orjiako said.

1 9 / 0 5 / 2 0 2 2 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

40

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

Friday, May 20, 2022

Thisday Afrinvest4040Index Index Thisday Afrinvest fellRebounds by 14bps 48bps The Afrinvest 40 index rebounded by 48bps to The Thisday dŚŝƐĚĂLJ ĨƌŝŶǀĞƐƚ ϰϬ /ŶĚĞdž ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ďLJ ϭϰďƉƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƩůĞ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

at 1,674.89 points due to sell-pressure on ZENITH (-0.6%), Ϯ͕ϯϱϭ͘ϵϭ ŝŶĚĞdž ƉŽŝŶƚƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ WAPCO (-1.3%), and UBA (-0.7%).

These stocks in MTNN (+5.7%), FBNH (+0.4%), and cumulaWAPCO

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

ƟǀĞůLJ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϯ͘Ϯй͘ ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ͘ ƵŵƵůĂƟǀĞůLJ͕ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ĂĐĐŽƵŶƚ ĨŽƌ ϭϲ͘Ϭй Ticker

of the index.

ASI up 11bps as DANGCEM Gains 3.3%

The Bulls Resurface... ASI up 1.1% WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ

ĚĂLJ͕

ƉƌŝĐĞ

ƵƉƟĐŬ

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40

ŝŶ

,KEz&>KhZ

zĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ͕ ƚŚĞ E'y- ^/ ƌŽƐĞ ϭ͘ϭй ƚŽ ϱϯ͕Ϯϳϱ͘ϰϵ ƉŽŝŶƚƐ (+9.8%), E' D ;нϯ͘ϯйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ & E, (+0.7%) bol-

on the back of buying interest in MTNN (+5.7%), stered ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ the local bourse as the AllSTANBIC (+4.6%),index and WAPCO (+1.6%).

Share rose Accordingly, by zd ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ƚŽ ŽŶƐĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ͕ Ϯϰ͘ϳй ;ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJ Ϯϯ͘ϰйͿ 11bpsƌĞƚƵƌŶ to 39,550.36 points. zd ůŽƐƐ ŝŵͲ proved ŵĂƌŬĞƚ to -1.8% ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ while ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝƐĂƟŽŶ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ǁŚŝůĞ ƌŽƐĞ ʬϮϵϴ͘ϳďŶ ƚŽ േϮϯ͘ϰďŶ ƚŽsŽůƵŵĞ േϮϬ͘ϲƚŶ͘ƚƌĂĚĞĚ dƌĂĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ǁĂƐ ŵŝdžĞĚ ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ ʬϮϴ͘ϳƚŶ͘ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ϱϱ͘Ϯй ƚŽ Ϯϳϰ͘ϰŵ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ Ϯϭ͘ϲй ƚŽ to ϭϭϬ͘ϴŵ ƵŶŝƚƐ ǁŚŝůĞ value units while valueďLJ rose 13.8% ʬ8.4bn. by volume werePerformance dZ E^ KZW ;ϭϭ͘ϵŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ & E, (11.1m Bearish Sector ƵŶŝƚƐͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ;ϳ͘ϯŵ ƵŶŝƚƐͿ performance ǁŚŝůĞ E ^d> was ;േϮ͘ϮďŶͿ͕ Across our K E K coverage sectors, bear E' D ;േϭϰϱ͘ϬŵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;േϭϯϰ͘ϴŵͿ ůĞĚ ďLJ ǀĂůƵĞ͘

ŝƐŚ ĂƐ ϰ ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ Ϯ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͘ >ĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐͲ gards, the Insurance index shed 1.3% due to price Bearish Sector Performance ĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ŝŶ D E^ Z ;-4.4%) and AIICO (-Ϯ͘ϲйͿ͘ dŚĞ

Banking and Oilunder & Gas fell 0.8% each duewas to Across sectors ourindices coverage, performance bearish as 4 indices lost, 1 index gained ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ &Z-ICT ƉƌŝĐĞ ĚĞƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ d/ ;-ϰ͘ϴйͿ͕ &/ >/dz ;-4.9%), and ŝŶĚĞdž ƌĞŵĂŝŶĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ dŽƉƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ůĂŐŐĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ the index Consum KEK/> ;-10.0%).

Also, the Consumer Goods fell er 'ŽŽĚƐ ĂŶĚƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ Insurance indices, down ;-1.8%) 4.6% and Ϭ͘Ϯй ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŝŶ /Ed Z t and ϭ͘Ϯй ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ-ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ E ^d> (-

, DW/KE ;-4.3%). Conversely, the AFR-ICT and InhE/> s Z

(-3.5%),

>/E< ^^hZ

(-6.4%),

by

price

apprecia-

6.2%

5.9x

0.9x

5.8%

37.1%

37.1%

105.6%

13.9%

17.1x

21.1x

5.3%

5.9%

10.7%

19.1%

11.2%

35.7x

6.7x

3.8%

2.8%

23.90

0.0%

5.1%

-8.1%

-8.1%

19.8%

3.2%

3.9x

0.8x

12.6%

25.4%

5 Zenith Bank PLC 6 Dangote Cement PLC

24.30

-0.4%

4.9%

-3.4%

-3.4%

20.6%

2.6%

3.1x

0.6x

12.8%

32.7%

7 Nestle Nigeria PLC 8 FBN Holdings Plc

300.00

0.0%

4.4%

16.7%

16.7%

37.7%

16.4%

13.6x

4.9x

6.7%

7.4%

1,401.40

0.0%

2.7%

-10.0%

-10.0%

112.8%

16.1%

24.4x

28.3x

3.6%

4.1%

12.00

0.4%

3.0%

5.3%

5.3%

8.4%

0.8%

7.1x

0.6x

3.7%

14.1%

28.75

1.6%

3.4%

20.0%

20.0%

15.5%

11.1%

7.8x

1.2x

7.0%

12.8%

9.90

2.1%

2.4%

6.5%

6.5%

9 Lafarge Africa PLC 10 Access Holdings PLC 11 United Bank for Africa PLC 12 Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC 13 Nigerian Brew eries PLC

7.1%

7.95

0.6%

1.8%

-1.2%

-1.2%

15.6%

1.4%

2.3x

0.3x

12.6%

43.9%

34.50

4.5%

1.3%

-4.2%

-4.2%

15.6%

2.1%

7.3x

1.2x

8.7%

13.7%

77.00

0.0%

2.1%

54.0%

54.0%

10.5%

3.9%

33.2x

3.3x

2.3%

3.0%

1,299.90

0.0%

2.7%

100.0%

100.0%

7.5%

3.6%

13.4x

1.0x

3.4%

7.5%

11.90

-4.8%

1.6%

36.8%

36.8%

18.4%

1.0%

2.5x

0.4x

5.6%

39.2%

16 International Brew eries PLC 17 Okomu Oil Palm PLC 18 Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC 19 Fidelity Bank PLC 20 AXA Mansard Insurance PLC 21 Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC 22 FCMB Group Plc 23 United Capital PLC 24 Guinness Nigeria PLC 25 Transnational Corp of Nigeria 26 Presco PLC

8.00

-1.8%

1.5%

61.6%

61.6%

-9.9%

-3.4%

215.00

0.0%

1.4%

51.4%

51.4%

43.6%

25.5%

11.2x

4.7x

3.9%

8.9%

37.00

0.0%

1.1%

30.5%

30.5%

15.9%

4.5%

5.7x

0.9x

4.5%

17.7% 37.9%

1.5x

-6.7%

3.47

-4.9%

0.7%

36.1%

36.1%

13.3%

1.2%

2.6x

0.3x

10.0%

2.20

-4.3%

0.5%

-5.2%

-5.2%

2.3%

0.7%

25.8x

0.6x

11.4%

3.9%

17.00

0.0%

0.4%

-2.3%

-2.3%

16.7%

6.6%

9.1x

1.5x

5.9%

11.0%

10.7%

1.1%

3.50

0.0%

0.4%

17.1%

17.1%

13.60

0.0%

0.4%

37.4%

37.4%

98.00

0.0%

0.8%

151.3%

151.3%

1.24

-6.8%

0.4%

29.2%

29.2%

17.8%

8.1%

14.6x

0.3x

5.7%

3.4x

11.0%

2.4x

0.5%

0.5x

1.6%

200.00

0.0%

0.6%

127.8%

127.8%

4.3x

0.6%

12.85

0.0%

0.2%

-2.7%

-2.7%

18.5%

5.7%

12.9x

2.3x

3.1%

7.7%

0.76

-2.6%

0.2%

8.6%

8.6%

14.0%

2.2%

30.1x

0.7x

2.6%

3.3%

29 TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeri 30 Custodian and Allied Insurance

234.50

0.0%

0.2%

5.7%

5.7%

1.7x

7.8%

7.50

0.0%

0.2%

-5.1%

-5.1%

19.5%

5.5%

4.4x

0.8x

6.7%

22.7%

31 Vitafoam Nigeria PLC 32 Unilever Nigeria PLC

24.50

0.0%

0.2%

8.9%

8.9%

50.3%

19.0%

4.6x

2.2x

6.2%

22.0%

14.80

-1.3%

0.1%

2.1%

2.1%

11.2%

6.9%

17.4x

1.3x

3.4%

5.7%

33 Julius Berger Nigeria PLC 34 Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

30.50

0.0%

0.2%

36.5%

36.5%

18.1%

2.3%

6.8x

0.9x

8.2%

14.8%

6.35

-2.3%

0.1%

7.6%

7.6%

6.1%

0.7%

10.0x

0.7x

10.0%

6.20

-0.5%

0.1%

40.3%

40.3%

14.5%

2.6%

2.7x

0.4x

37.5%

3.28

0.0%

0.0%

355.6%

355.6%

15.6%

0.9%

12.1x

1.7x

7.3%

8.2%

4.00

1.8%

0.1%

-11.1%

-11.1%

22.3%

12.9%

4.1x

0.8x

5.5%

24.2%

1.9x

0.3x

6.4%

51.6%

1.56

0.6%

0.1%

3.3%

3.3%

9.9%

0.9%

62.50

0.0%

0.1%

0.0%

0.0%

-17.7%

-4.1%

5.89

9.9%

0.0%

9.5%

9.5%

T ic k er

Ϯϵ ůŽƐƚ ǁŚŝůĞ ϲϱ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŇĂƚ͘ /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ĮŶĂů ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ

B ET A GLA S

1.8x

-9.5%

1.0x

1.2%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

T R A N SC OH OT

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg % -6.8%

5.89

9.9%

T R A N SC OR P

48.4

62.55

9.7%

M TNN

20.6

5.7%

M C N IC H OLS

1.94

9.6%

C ON OIL

14.3

-10.0%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ^ƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶƐ

VER IT A SKA P

0.23

9.5%

GT C O

13.7

0.0%

ŐĂŝŶƐ ŽŶ ďĂƌŐĂŝŶ ŚƵŶƟŶŐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘

M ULT IVER SE

0.24

9.1%

FB NH

13.5

0.4%

A B B EYB D S

1.52

8.6%

UB A

12.3

0.6%

6.9%

A C C ESSC OR P

11.9

2.1%

270.00

5.7%

A B B EYB D S

9.4

8.6%

34.50

4.5%

FCM B

9.3

0.0%

0.26

4.0%

A IIC O

8.8

-2.6%

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌƐ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

GLA XOSM IT H

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ͕ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ͕ ƐĞƩůŝŶŐ Ăƚ 1.6x

Corporate Disclosure

M TNN

ĨƌŽŵ ϭ͘ϯdž ƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚƌĂĚŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ Ϯϰ stocks

ST A N B IC

Today, Access Holdings Plc ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ Ă ĚĞĮŶŝƟǀĞ advanced while 15 stocks declined. MRS (+9.9%), MAY-

T ic k er C ON OIL

ũŽƌŝƚLJ ĞƋƵŝƚLJ ƐƚĂŬĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJ͘ DĞĂŶǁŚŝůĞ͕ STOCK (-4.8%) led losers. Previous day, we expectMTN the EŝŐĞƌŝĂ ŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚƐ ĮŶƚĞĐŚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŵŝdžĞĚ͕ ĂƐ earnings season ƐƵďƐŝĚŝĂƌLJ͕ DŽDŽ W^ >ƚĚ͕ ĨŽƌŵĂůůLJ ĐŽŵŵĞŶĐĞĚ ĐŽŵͲ gradually winds up. ŵĞƌĐŝĂů ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽĚĂLJ͕ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ Ă ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵů ƉŝůŽƚ ŝŶŝƟĂƚĞĚ ŽŶ ϭϲ DĂLJ ϮϬϮϮ͘

P ric e 28.35

P ric e C hg %

T ic k er

Value

-10.0%

M TNN

5494.9

P ric e C hg % 5.7%

420.7

0.0%

409.1

-10.0%

ET ER N A

6.60

-9.6%

SEP LA T

P R EST IGE

0.40

-9.1%

C ON OIL

CHA M S

0.22

-8.3%

GT C O

328.1

0.0%

R OYA LEX

1.26

-7.4%

N EST LE

189.5

0.0%

NP FM CRFB K

1.86

-7.0%

FB NH

162.5

0.4%

-6.8%

A C C ESSC OR P

116.5

2.1%

112.9

0.0%

T R A N SC OR P

1.24

F ID ELIT YB K

3.47

-4.9%

P R ESC O

ET I

11.90

-4.8%

Z EN IT H B A N K

100.4

-0.4%

-4.7%

UB A

97.4

0.6%

LIN KA SSUR E

Afrinvest West Africa Limited

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T o p 10 L o s e r s

BAKER (+9.8%), and HONYFLOUR (+9.8%) led gainers

while ABCTRANS (-8.3%), LASACO (-6.7%), and LIVE-

7.00

M B EN EF IT

ĂŐƌĞĞŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ &ŝƌƐƚ 'ƵĂƌĂŶƚĞĞ WĞŶƐŝŽŶ >ƚĚ ;ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂŶLJͿ ƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂů ĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŵĂͲ

6.8%

27 NASCON Allied Industries PLC 28 AIICO Insurance PLC

ƟŽŶ in E' D (+3.3%).

ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁĞĞŬ͕ ǁĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ

15.3%

1.4%

10.7%

Conversely, ƚŚĞ /ŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů 'ŽŽĚƐ ŝŶĚĞdž ǁĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůŽŶĞ ŐĂŝŶͲ driven

5.7%

18.2%

9.6%

Investor ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͕ ĂƐ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĚ ďLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ͕ 1.8%

21.1%

46.6%

6.4%

ŽīƐ ŝŶ K E K (-0.8%), E/d, (-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͕ ĂŶĚ 'd K ;-Ϭ͘ϮйͿ͘

up

46.6%

Dividend Earnings Yield Yield

P/BV

0.0%

39 Notore Chemical Industries Ltd 40 Transcorp Hotels Plc

weakened to -Ϭ͘ϭϮdž ĨƌŽŵ -Ϭ͘Ϭϯdž ĂƐ Ϯϭ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ͕

26.8% 135.2% 38.3%

P/E

5.7%

ƟǀĞůLJ͕ ďƵŽLJĞĚ ďLJ DdEE ;нϱ͘ϳйͿ ĂŶĚ t W K ;нϭ͘ϲйͿ͘ Outlook

0.0%

ROA

74.25

37 NEM Insurance PLC 38 Sterling Bank PLC

ing indices fell by Ϭ͘Ϯй ĂŶĚ ϮďƉƐ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ƐĞůů-

0.48%

1,400.00

ROE

270.00

dustrial Goods ŝŶĚŝĐĞƐ ŐĂŝŶĞĚ Ϯ͘ϴй ĂŶĚ Ϭ͘ϭй ƌĞƐƉĞĐͲ and D E^ Z (-Ϯ͘ϮйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ƚŚĞ Kŝů Θ 'ĂƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŬͲ

Price Price Previous Current Change Change Price Weighting Index to YTD Change Date

3 BUA Cement Plc 4 Guaranty Trust Holding Co PLC

35 Oando PLC 36 Wema Bank PLC

er,

2351.91

1 Airtel Africa PLC 2 MTN Nigeria Communications PLC

14 SEPLAT Energy PLC 15 Ecobank Transnational Inc

ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƌŽƐĞ ďLJ ϴϴ͘ϱй ƚŽ േϯ͘ϭďŶ͘ The most traded stocks

9.1%),

Current Price

0.61

Brokerage

Asset Management

Investment Research

Adedoyin Allen | aallen@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde | romotunde@afrinvest.com

Abiodun Keripe | AKeripe@afrinvest.com

Taiwo Ogundipe | togundipe@afrinvest.com

Christopher Omoh | comoh@afrinvest.com

Damilare Asimiyu | dasimiyu@afrinvest.com

41

T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

NEWS

SARAKI IN TARABA...

L-R: Speaker of the Taraba House of Assembly, Prof. Albasu Joseph Kunini; Deputy Governor, Engr. Haruna Manu; Chairman of Saraki Contact and Mobilisation Committee, Sen. Iyorwuese Hagher; former Governor of Kwara State, Sen. Shaaba Lafiagi; PDP Presidential Aspirant, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku and Hon. Uche Okafor, during Saraki's visit to Taraba State

Ex-NEITI Board Member Faults FG’s Rejection of Seplat, ExxonMobil Deal Wonders why oil losses have not been subjected to independent judiciary inquiry Over 60 years after, operators back to manual evacuation of crude, Aiteo, others lament Peter Uzoho A former board member of the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and Managing Partner at ENR Advisory, Mr. Gbite Adeniji, has faulted the denial of ministerial consent to Seplat Energy’s bid to acquire Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited's oil assets.

He said the ministerial consent denial in the deal was telling, adding that the message implied that real players and investors were never wanted nor desired in Nigeria.

Adeniji, also wondered why the federal government had not been able to subject the massive oil losses and attendant negative impact on the nation's economy to an independent judicial inquiry to ascertain the cause and address the menace.

This was just as the Group Managing Director of Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO) Limited, Mr. Victor Okonkwo, lamented the

pains and difficulties faced by the company as it now struggles to manually evacuate its crude to export terminal due to the shutdown of the Trunklines.

Both Adeniji and Okoronkwo spoke yesterday in Lagos, at the public presentation of a book written by a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Dr. Godswill Ihetu.

The title of the book, which was the writer's autobiography and memoir, was: "From Oloibiri to Bonny."

Seplat Energy had in February this year, announced its acquisition of oil and gas assets belonging to MPNU in a deal worth about $1.2 billion.

But the deal was subject to Ministerial Consent and other required regulatory approvals.

However, few weeks after, it was reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited had opted to exercise its Right of First Refusal (RFR) on the sale of the assets, which then put

Shekarau: I Dumped APC for NNPP to Bring about Change in Kano Ganduje's Finance commissioner resigns, joins NNPP Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano Former Governor and Senator representing Kano Central, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, yesterday said the state was facing serious predicament which forced him to quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Shekarau said he decided to leave the APC because of the party’s injustice and the leadership crisis by the Ganduje-led faction.

"Myself and followers dumped the ruling APC for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), to save his state from its current predicament.

“Instead of the party leadership convening a meeting to resolve the issue as a family matter within a few hours of the appeal court judgment, they rushed and granted a certificate of recognition to the other faction.

“Also, since the 2019 elections, only one seat has been given to us by the Governor (Finance Commissioner, Shehu Na’allah Kura), despite our contributions.

We have brought in millions of people who have served us for almost twenty years but nothing was done to them.

“We have been talking with my brother, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for a long time, because we are worried about the future of Kano.

“We have talked and told ourselves that we must bring about change in Kano. If we do not look back at our people and find a solution for Kano, God will hold us accountable. Our concern is the development of the people of Kano and Nigeria,” he said.

Also, one of the commissioners nominated for appointment by Shekarau into the Ganduje’s administration, Kura has resigned and joined his boss.

A statement by the commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba indicated that Kura was appointed as commissioner into the key ministry at the request of Shekarau after the 2019 election.

a hold on the transaction.

On Wednesday, it emerged that the federal government in separate letters to Seplat and ExxonMobil declined its consent to the proposed acquisition of the MPNU assets by Seplat, citing overriding national interest as one of the reasons for rejecting the deal.

Commenting on the matter, Adeniji, who served as the Senior Technical Adviser (Upstream Gas Policy and Regulation) under the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, said the refusal to grant Seplat the goal ahead with the asset purchase deal with ExxonMobil would send wrong signals to foreign investors.

"And it was interesting on today's headline, about the denial of ministerial consent to the sale of Exxon's interest in MPNU to Seplat, and that's telling.

"The message seems to be that real players are never wanted nor desired in Nigeria. We need to be worried", he stated.

The former ministerial aide also decried the inability of Nigeria to take advantage of the current

super cycle in oil prices, which has created a bonanza for petroleum rich nations due to Nigeria's under capacity production largely caused by massive oil theft.

Adeniji stated that given the strategic importance of petroleum revenues to the nation, it was unfortunate that Nigeria was at the moment unable to take advantage of the oil super cycle due to its inability to produce beyond half of its production capacity.

He said during the designing of the nation's fiscal policy and petroleum legislation, the belief was that oil price would rise above $100 per barrel and that Nigeria would benefit immensely from such price rally, arguing that that has not been the case at the moment.

He said, "The idea was that we would have windfall revenues to accrue to the treasury. The day has come but we are not able to produce to our capacity and that's very unfortunate.

"So, if we were to stop and take an objective view of this state of affairs, one of my questions is, why has such a monumentally

significant event not been subjected to an independent judicial enquiry to allow the country and the administration to fully understand the remote and the immediate cause of the loss of production of our economic oxygen.

"More also, given its wider applications for national and political security. It's a big issue, this is a big deal. You cannot lose half of your oil production and just move on. You are going to stop, think and understand why in detail, because it suggests that there is a systemic issue and you are going to understand those issues and try to address them."

According to him, in spite of the promise in the Petroleum Industry Act for accountable sector governance, a full enquiry on this worrying state of affairs appears to be off the table.

Maintaining that it was not surprising that the country was not able to attract high quality investors into the oil sector, Adeniji said, "when you just move on when these big things are happening, people must ask: what's going on

with you guys?"

He said having wasted the opportunities in oil exploitation in the last 60 years, gas has now presented the country with another opportunity as the world is now witnessing energy transition that has gas as one of the emerging alternatives to fossil fuel.

He explained that energy independence and security from Russia was now top of the European security agenda.

Adeniji explained further that gas demand in Europe and Nigeria's strategic location in the Atlantic basin presents the country with another opportunity to redeem itself from the jaws of self-inflicted economic and sector mismanagement.

In his intervention, the Aiteo GMD, Okonkwo, lamented the pains and difficulties faced by the company as it now struggles to manually evacuate its crude to export terminal in Bonny due to the shutdown of the Trunklines, noting that that was one of the biggest challenge facing them now.

Alleged Failure in Protecting Judiciary: NBA Replies Wike, Says Remark Inconsiderate, Uncharitable Alex Enumah in Abuja

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday berated Rivers State Governor, Nyesome Wike for accusing it of not protecting the judiciary as it should, describing the governor's statement as inconsiderate and uncharitable.

The NBA in a statement signed by its National President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, expressed disappointment that such allegations was coming from a person of Wike's status who is a senior lawyer in the country.

The governor had at a book launch in honour of the recently retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Peter-Odili, described the NBA as a, “paper tiger” which has failed in its responsibility to protect the Judiciary in Nigeria and rescue it from political intimidation.

Akpata, said he could not allow the Wike, "make such baseless allegations against the NBA particularly as he is a senior member of the legal profession who will be presumed by many

to be speaking from a position of knowledge."

Akpata, further noted that it was quite ironic that the governor made the allegations at an event held in honour of Justice Peter-Odili in support of whom, the NBA, "stood firm in the face of that brazen attack on her home in Abuja by some persons who are now standing trial in our law courts.”

He added that for Wike to have, "chosen so quickly, to either forget or ignore this and other actions of the NBA in support of the Judiciary is suggestive of a dissonance that is most disconcerting and should give one serious cause for concern."

The NBA President said, "It is very convenient for Governor Wike to ask Nigerian lawyers (as he did at the Book Launch) to emulate their apparently more courageous Pakistani colleagues when the issues at stake do not concern him directly, but when in 2019 the very same Nigerian lawyers had the "temerity" to question his handling of the security situation in Rivers

State and threatened to boycott the Courts if there was no abatement of the rising insecurity in the State, he was only too quick to lambast the lawyers and to withdraw his "support" for the NBA in the State.

"While we understand that Governor Wike is currently on the political soapbox and, like a man with the proverbial new hammer, to whom any and everything is a nail, he will latch unto any chance to sell his candidacy, he cannot and should not be allowed to use the NBA as fodder of any sort for his vaulting ambition."

According to the NBA, the politico-legal history of Nigeria was replete with the commendable role that it had played, and continues to play, as a primary defender of the rule of law and protector of the Judiciary in Nigeria.

While stating that the body's commitment to defend the Judiciary and its integrity has remained unshaken, Akpata reminded Wike of some of the achievement of the NBA under his watch.

"Illustrative examples abound to drive home this point, and three well-known examples remain fresh in the consciousness of Nigerians and constitute recent history that cannot be rewritten even by a personality of Governor Wike's calibre.

"Firstly, there was the crisis that rocked the Cross River State Judiciary when, against established legal tradition, the Governor of the State refused to appoint the most senior Judge in the State – Justice Akon Ikpeme - as the substantive Chief Judge on the ground that she was not an indigene of Cross River State.

“That was an attempt by the executive arm of government to extend its political turf to the Judiciary, and the active role that the NBA played – both publicly and privately in defending the Judiciary and resolving that ugly debacle in that State (and a few other States where similar scenarios played out afterwards) is well-documented."

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NEWSXTRA

WHEN TINUBU VISITED ILORIN...

L-R: Former governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima; Mutawale of Ilorin, Dr. Alimi Abdulrasaq; APC National Leader and Presidential Aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Emir of Ilorin, HRH Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq; Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Alabi, and APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, when Tinubu paid a courtesy call on the Emir, during his visit to Kwara State... recently

APC Confirms 28 Presidential Forms Bought, 25 Submitted, Sold 133 in Gubernatorial Insists party yet to zone presidential ticket

Nume Ekeghe in Lagos, Kingsley Nwezeh and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Felix Morka, yesterday, clarified that presidential nomination forms sold by the ruling party were 28, while 133 forms were purchased by governorship aspirants.

Morka said as of yesterday, 25 of the 28 presidential forms sold had been returned, but he could not ascertain how many out of the 133 gubernatorial forms were returned.

On the extension of APC’s primaries and the use of Eagle Square, Abuja, for the exercise, he denied any attempt to bully the opposition.

Morka, who spoke at The Morning Show on Arise News Channel, explained, “For presidential, we had 28 aspirants purchase forms for the office of president, of which 25 were returned and submitted and three were not. Now, for governorship, we have 133 forms purchased, however, I don't have the exact figures of those who have returned.”

Morka said APC was yet to zone its presidential ticket.

He stated, “Every member of the party has rights; rights to aspire, and rights to support those who aspire. That's a freedom we cherish and it is constitutional liberty that they have the freedom to associate with any aspirant or support anyone they choose.

“But the issue of zoning, and quite frankly, I'm a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our party and I have not been privy to any discussions that have resulted in any kind of decisions about zoning. We have not made any decision at this time about zoning.

“So, all of those reports are purely speculative, they do not represent any decisions made by our party, because we have yet to make any decision on that. The party will make that call and when they do, I think that everyone will be advised as to that position and then to act accordingly.”

Speaking on the appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for time extension, he said, “It's not just the APC, all the other parties unanimously did request an extension of time by INEC, which request has yet to be granted. Now, the reason is that the pressure that we feel, based on these very stringent timelines, is not exclusive to our party. It's shared by other parties as well.

“So, yes, a little bit of extension would be helpful, even though we can't guarantee that INEC could make that decision, but we were hoping that they would because if they did, it will not significantly affect the timelines imposed by the Electoral Act. As a matter of fact, the timelines we're dealing with right now are based on INEC’s own guidelines, not quite the Electoral Act. “So, there's a bit of wriggle

room if INEC wanted to grant just a couple of weeks, even a month of extension, but to be very helpful to ease some of the pressure that we feel currently.

But, irrespective, I think that we are working hard to meet those deadlines that INEC has set.

“We are not playing minds games with any party on the other side, we made the adjustments based on a very realistic assessment of where we are in the process of documenting

for INEC. As you know, INEC has imposed very strict timelines by which parties must submit lists of their candidates that will participate in the next elections.

“And on our side, we have a lot of internal processes to sort through before that. So we simply extend that but just a bit of time to enable us to conclude those steps in a way that guarantees the integrity, if you will, of the information that we give to INEC."

On the use of Eagle square as convention venue, he said, "We are not in the business of bullying anyone, and I'm quite sure that our friends on the other side will not admit that they were bullied. But the fact of the matter is that, yes, I am aware that the Eagle Square is one of the venues we are looking at, but I cannot confirm at this time whether or not that is actually the venue that we will be using for our presidential convention."

Academics, Cleric, CSOs Seek Reopening of Universities, Kidnap Victims' Release Sunday Aborisade, Abuja Speakers at a one-day roundtable on national issues in Abuja, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to ensure the reopening of universities as well as the release of all kidnap victims in order to reduce the growing tension in the country.

The event was organised by the Development Specs Academy under the leadership of a former Director in the Federal Ministry of Information, Dr. Okey Ikechukwu.

Some other speakers at the occasion included Rev.Fr. George Ehusani, Prof Jim Unah, Dr. Amaechi Anakwue, Prof.

Christopher Ogbogbo, Dr. Amara Albert, Dr. Hyeladi Haruna and a former spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Sani Usman (retd.), among others.

Participants were drawn from the civil society communities, youth-based organisations, youths in politics and social media influencers among others.

The forum frowned at the continued closure of the Nigerian public universities and noted that the country could have a looming crisis if they were not reopened forthwith.

Speaking on the topic titled, "State of the nation," Ehusani, a former secretary of the Catholic Secretariat in Nigeria, said the security situation in the country could be worsened if the ablebodied and highly energetic youths are continuously kept idle outside their schools.

He, therefore advised the federal government team negotiating

with the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to conclude their works and accede to the lecturers' requests.

Speaking on the topic, "The youth crises," Ogbogbo, a professor of history, urged the undergraduates in the nation's public universities to embark on intellectual protest to support their striking lecturers to end

the ongoing industrial action.

He said, "Youths can put their intellect into use, in confronting their problems. Angels won't fall from heaven to help them. The youths have the responsibility to change the current system which is not in their favour.

"They are not expected to go on rampage destroying public infrastructure but to intellectually

engage the leadership in an organised and peaceful protest that would achieve positive results."

The former Army spokesperson, Usman described as unacceptable, the inability of the Nigerian government to ensure the release of its citizens still being held in captivities by terrorist from 2014 till date.

He said, "Government should

intensify efforts to ensure that all those in captivities are not left behind, it should make it a priority, to release the Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu, the March 29 Kaduna kidnap victims and others.

"Government should be proactive in information dissemination about what it is doing concerning those in captivity in various parts of the country."

SPDC Inaugurates Oloibiri Health Centre, to Commemorate Oil Discovery in Bayelsa Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa As part of the activities lined up to commemorate the discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State in 1956, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) yesterday inaugurated the Oloibiri Health Centre.

Crude Oil was first discovered in commercial quantity at Oloibiri community in 1956, after half a century of exploration by Shell-BP. Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of SPDC, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, said Oloibiri community occupied a pride of place in the history of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, which, he said, necessitated the conception of Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP).

He said the Oloibiri Health Programme (OHP) depicts a deliberate suites of health

projects that aim to achieve three broad objectives.

Okunbor said: "It was in Oloibiri that Shell made the nation’s first commercial quantity discovery of crude oil in 1956.

"That discovery is what has positioned Nigeria as a key player, providing energy to the world, wealth to the country and abundant opportunities to the Nigerian people.

"The relationship between SPDC and Bayelsa since that discovery has grown with the expected footprints of our operations and social investments spread across the state.

"Amidst this growth, Oloibiri remains the reference point for Nigeria’s oil and gas journey.

"It is in this light that the Shell group, as part of marking Nigeria’s centenary celebrations in 2014, conceived and began the implementation of the OHP

to serve as a reference point in Nigeria for sustainable Primary Health Care delivery."

He said the Oloibiri Health Programme is a multi-phased programme with several stakeholders as partners.

The partners include the Bayelsa Ministry of Health, the Ogbia Local Government, Federal University Otuoke, amongst others.

In his remark at the occasion, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, applauded the intervention by SPDC, saying it complemented efforts of his administration in the health sector.

While thanking the oil giant for the gesture, the governor urged other oil firms operating in the state to emulate the company and reciprocate such in other senatorial districts.

He urged Oloibiri people to take the health centre seriously and ensure that they put it

to use for the betterment of humanity.

"Let me appreciate SPDC and its partners for also prioritising healthcare in the state by initiating the OHP. "This is a laudable development because it will go a long way in complementing the various steps and policies we have introduced to meet the health needs of our citizens in Ogbia local government area," he said.

Also, King Charles Owaba, the Paramount Ruler of Ogbia Kingdom, urged SPDC to step up its efforts to ameliorate the adverse impact of oil exploration on the environment and people of the area.

Represented by Mr. Ibiroma Ikuli, the traditional ruler said Ogbia kingdom deserves the best from shell and Bayelsa government as the first place oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in 1956.

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NEWSXTRA

REVISED LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING GUIDE...

L-R: DG, NILDS, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman; DG, NIALS Prof. Mohammed Ladan; Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Prof. Jummai Audi and Prof Mohammed Tabiu, during the presentation of the Revised Legislative Drafting Guide developed by NILDS to address drafting gaps in legislative process in Abuja…recently

I'm Running as Nigerian Presidential Aspirant, Not as Northerner, Says Lawan Sunday Aborisade, Abuja The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, yesterday said his presidential bid is in his capacity as a Nigerian who is qualified to be president and not as a northern aspirant as being insinuated in some quarters.

Lawan, according to a statement by his media aide, Ola Awoniyi, made the remarks at a meeting with some members of the Katsina State House of Assembly who came to see him. They were led by the Speaker of the House, Hon.Tasiu Musa Maigari.

The Senate President was in Katsina to seek the support of party members particularly the delegates for his presidential bid ahead of the party primaries later this month.

Lawan who is one of the longest serving Nigerian Federal lawmakers having been elected into the National Assembly since 1999, said he possessed the requisite experience and qualifications that put him at an advantage over other aspirants.

He said, "I am not running as a northern aspirant because the impression created is that

I'm a northern aspirant or that northerners are saying they are not going to allow power to the South.

"I'm not running as a northern candidate. I'm running as a Nigerian Presidential aspirant and therefore I come with all my qualifications for that office and people should judge me on the basis of what I have to offer," Lawan said in Katsina.

"We have been around for some time. Thank God, from 2019, we have been working with the President of our Party, President Muhammadu Buhari, very closely.

Ogun Begins Laying of 5,000 Fibre Optic Cable to Boost Internet Connectivity James Sowole in Abeokuta The Ogun State Government has begun laying of 5000 kilometre fibre optic cable that would link the 20 local government areas of the state.

The laying of the cable, was part of the three main areas in which the state was deploying resources for of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure.

The Special Assistant to the Ogun State Governor on ICT, Mr. Olakunle Akinbola, disclosed the efforts of the government at opening of a worship on ICT/E-Commerce Value Chain for stakeholders.

The workshop sponsored by a German Development Agency, GIZ, organised in collaboration with the Bureau of Information.

Technology (BIT), Ogun State, had stakeholders from Academia, Chambers of Commerce, business community, ICT companies and Government Agencies.

The workshop was organised under the heading, " Pro-

Poor Growth and Promotion of Employment in Nigeria Programme- known as SEDIN.” Akinbola, who disclosed that the state, had laid about 2000 kilometre optic cables, said the essence of the project, was to make internet connectivity available to all local governments in the first instance.

He said: "The essence of the project is to have internet connectivity across the state.

"The idea is that as soon as we get into local governments, from each local government, we can now go into phase two of the project, which is to deliver the fibre connectivity to schools and hospitals so that those establishments can enjoy internet connectivity.

"We can then open the door for private sector to come in to deliver the last mile. What we mean by the last mile is the connectivity from the local government to offices and homes.

"What that will do is that it will open internet to everyone in the state and you can imagine the impact that will have in terms of

Ekiti Guber: Bagudu, Akeredolu, Omo-Agege Lead 62-member Governorship Campaign Council Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appointed the Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu as the Chairman of its Ekiti State Governorship Campaign council.

The National Organising Secretary of the Party, Suleiman Argungun in a statement issued yesterday, stated that the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu; Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege are also part of the 62-member committee.

Others are: Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma; his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello; Governor of Plateau State, Solomon Lalong; Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers and the Minister of Works and Housing, Raji Fashola are also part of the council.

He said the campaign council would be inaugurated by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdulahi Adamu on Monday at the party secretariat in Abuja.

investors coming in to the state and the people of the state, small and medium enterprise being able to enjoy internet connectivity. The benefits are just endless."

Speaking on the workshop, the Head of Component, Local Economic and Value Chains, GIZ, Sina Uti-Waziri, said the ICT Value chain in Ogun State was not only because of its high employment and income potential, but also because of the important of the moving forward into the future.

I know and I understand most of the national issues that we deal with.

"I'm a participant in this government and I use that as one advantage that I have. Even though I'm a parliamentarian, I have some experience in governance. Real experience. Therefore, we are going round to tell Nigerians that we are available.

"The fact that we came out last speaks volumes, because I didn't just wake up one morning and say I want to be president. It took a lot of time for those who believe in me to talk to me to also throw my hat in the ring. And after some time, I accepted.

"That is to say that some people are not satisfied with those they are seeing and they think that we can do better. I have a great deal of respect for those who are running.

The other aspirants.

"I believe that I have my advantages and I'm going to use my advantages by the Grace of God to not only emerge as the candidate of our party but also win the general elections.”

Speaking further, he said: "I'm not running like someone from the northeast, I'm running as a Nigerian because I believe that I understand the issues of development in Nigeria today.

“As a participant in this administration, I know that this

administration succeeded in some ways and has not succeeded as much in others and therefore, those areas in which we succeeded, it's for me to continue to build on them.

"Those areas that we have found ourselves in deficit, that we have not been able to succeed as much, it's for us to work on them. I am a product of this administration and my party and therefore I commit myself to the ideals of my party.

"I commit myself to the ideals of this administration because it takes every effort by everyone to bring development. Mr. President will be finishing his term in 2023 as we all know but his ideals are there and his ideals are to develop our country," Lawan said.

The Senate President also told a large gathering of party leaders and delegates, with the State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari in attendance, why he should be considered to be the presidential candidate of the party in the forthcoming primaries.

"It will be 23 years on the 4th of June this year, that I have been in the National Assembly.

My experiences, I believe, are adequate because I have worked with people like you (Governor Masari) and today, I'm working with our president, President Muhammadu Buhari who is leading the APC administration.

"For me, this is an experience that I cherish. This is an experience that makes me think that I have the capacity, that I have the ability, that I have the training, that I have the audacity and the courage to stay in that office in Abuja, in the Villa, to lead the affairs of this country with people like you around me.

"It is not abnormal that a Senator can be a President. In the US, even the current President(Joe Biden) was in the Senate. Former President Obama was in the Senate and therefore I believe that, coming from the Legislature, with some experience from the Executive because I have been working very closely with the President, I have the requisite experience to lead the affairs of this country," Lawan said.

In his response, Masari described Lawan as very reliable and dependable person.

"When he called me, I told him he should have gone to other places because whatever is possible, whatever we can do for him, we will do it," Masari said.

The Senate President was accompanied by the former Governor of Abia State and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, Senator Bello Mandiya and former Senator Tafida Umar.

OBASANJO: NIGERIA’S INABILITY TO CONTAIN INSECURITY A CHOICE BY HER LEADERS levels are still a source of concern,” El-Rufai stated.

He said the security report “has brought out new emerging concerns that I will want the security council to take note of and discuss and, maybe, to proffer some suggestions.

“The first great concern is the emergence of Boko Haram terrorist enclave as well as activities of Ansaru, particularly, in Birnin-Gwari and Chikun local governments.

“Among those kidnapped from the train was a roommate and classmate of mine, who was released upon payment of a ransom and throughout the period that he was in captivity, it was very clear that the terrorists were making comments like the forests in Kaduna are even better than Sambisa, so, they should all relocate here.

“I think this is an area we should all be concerned about.

And that is why we have been making the point that the problem of insecurity now has moved from the North-east to the North-west.

“What is happening in Northwest is far more serious and, potentially, more dangerous than we have ever had in the North-east

and we will like the military and other security agencies to take notice of this before it gets out of control.

“The second, which is related to the first, is the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and mines in the state. We have been lucky; thanks to the police, we have been able to defuse most of them without causing major loss of lives.”

The governor said the IEDs issue was a major concern because “it shows very clearly the movement from banditry to terrorism with expertise in making explosive devices”.

El-Rufai lamented the high rate of drug abuse in the state and called for urgent action to curb the trend, saying, “I think we should give KASUPDA (Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency) a clear directive that any building housing any patent medicine selling these drugs should be acquired by the government and demolished.

“This will be a deterrent to those that give these people the wherewithal to poison our young people. We have to take this action, because it is related to banditry and all forms of criminalities drugs

play a major role. We must cut the supply chain of drugs to the bandits.”

The governor said action should be taken against communities constantly mentioned in criminal acts along the Abuja-Kaduna road.

He said, “What I noticed in the report is continuous mention of Rijana, Kateri and Akilibu axis (along Kaduna-Abuja highway) in all these crimes, particularly, as regards the safety or lack of it.

“We have been exploring what to do about these three communities, whether to relocate them to near Kagarko, whether to clear the three communities.

I will like the security council to deliberate on it and look at the options, because it is very clear that there are higher levels of informants and criminals in these locations, because why is it that anytime there is attack or any form of kidnapping on the road, it happens around this axis and nothing ever happens on the Kagarko axis?

“There is something wrong with the Rijana, Katari axis and government should not refuse to do anything. We have to look at the options, including the clearance of the settlements completely and

relocation of the people to where other more honest people can watch them.”

El-Rufai observed that the security agencies were overstretched and recruitment of vigilantes needed to be ramped up.

“I think the 1,000 (vigilantes) we trained have been very useful in assisting the army, the police and other security agencies and, perhaps, this is the time to get another 1,000 and send them to Police College for training,” he said.

The governor added, “We have already bought weapons that are with the Commissioner of Police, but we need more men and women.”

He stressed that he would like to see resumption of flights at the Kaduna International Airport.

Flight operations at the airport was suspended following terrorists’ attacks in March.

El-Rufai said, “We are grateful to the Defence Headquarters for enabling the establishment of the NDA Demonstration Battalion. I will like to appeal to the Air Force, whose Area of Responsibility includes the Kaduna airport, to also have some kind of permanent deployment at the airport to secure it so that flights can resume.”

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T H I S D AY • FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2022

NEWSXTRA

COURTESY VISIT...

L–R: Group Managing Director, Custodian Investment Plc, Mr. Wole Oshin; Economic Counsellor, British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, Mr. Guy Harrison; Trade Advisor, Infrastructure & Healthcare Sector, Lead, Nigeria Department for International Trade, British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, Mr. Ayotomi Elemide, and Group Executive Director, Custodian Investment Plc, Mr. Niyi Falade, during a courtesy visit to Custodian Plc, Sabo. Yaba, Lagos…recently

Nigeria’s Presidency Not for Moneybags, Says Fayemi John Shiklam in Kaduna Ekiti State Governor and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said Nigeria’s presidency was not for moneybags.

Fayemi stated this yesterday while soliciting the support of Kaduna delegates for the forthcoming APC Presidential primaries.

He said although he did not have money, he had the capacity and the competence to lead the country, adding that, if elected President, he would end insecurity and address issues of poverty and inequality.

“Inequality, poverty, economic undertones of security challenges are some of the issues to be addressed before we can address insecurity.

Kaduna SState is one of the major food baskets in the country.

“We want to absorb our youth into the food value chain of agriculture and we must guarantee credit for our farmers and off-taking of the produce from our farmers,” Fayemi said.

As a founding member of the APC, he promised to establish a policy institute for policy making

and hold leaders accountable.

“I am here because I believe we can build on the legacy of our president and I believe I have the capacity, the competence and the compassion for our people and I can lead the country. I am not an accidental politician, yet, I didn’t set out to be a politician; I am an academic. Fighting against June 12 annulment is what brought me here.

“I ran Radio Kudirat, I was declared persona non grata and faced lot of threats. I desire to have a better Nigeria, a more progressive country that would yield to the yearnings of the people,” he said.

Fayemi, therefore, urged the delegates to critically assess the aspirants and their vision, temperament, capacity, competence and the courage to do the right thing.

“I am not a moneybag, but I also know this job has never gone to a moneybag. But I can raise money.

I have colleagues, who believe in me, who are compassionate, who can assist me if I run to them. What you want is a better future for your children, where you can sleep with your eyes closed.

PDP Rejects Tenure Elongation for FCT LG Chairs, Councilors Chuks Okocha in Abuja The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has faulted the judgement of an Abuja High Court that retroactively extended for one year, the tenure of office of six area council chairmen and councillors, whose tenure of office, was expected to end today, Friday May 20 2022 Surprisingly, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, also rejected the court judgement, and appealed for calm, stating that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) intended to appeal the judgement.

The PDP, however, threatened to petition the judge, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, to the National Judicial Council for abuse of court processes.

The tenure of the six area council chairmen was constitutionally three years based on the 2010 electoral act and not the new 2022 electoral law.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, described the Court order as a very dangerous design by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in connivance with certain judicial officers to abridge the democratic system and foist anarchy in country.

He said the party has just been made aware of a bizarre judgement

by Hon. Justice Ibrahim Mohammed of the High Court of the Federal

Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, in suit No. FCT/HC/W/910/2022, wherein he attempted to extend by one year, the tenure of the out-going chairmen and councilors of FCT Area Councils, which expires today, Friday, May, 20, 2022.

According to the PDP spokesperson, "The clear intent of this judgment is to abridge our electoral process, overthrow the entire outcome of the FCT Area Council election held on Saturday, February 12, 2022, which was overwhelmingly won by candidates of the PDP, halt the swearing-in of the newly elected Chairmen and Councilors and impose an undemocratic government in the FCT. "The PDP vehemently and without equivocation rejects the judgement in its entirety. This judgment cannot be executed as it is unconstitutional, illegal, baseless and devoid of any legal foundation and reasoning for implementation.

"This is because the four years tenure provided for FCT Area Council Chairmen and Councilors in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2022, upon which the judgement is based, cannot be made retroactive to apply to outgoing Chairmen and Councilors who were elected under the 2010 Electoral Act which provided for a three-year tenure commencing from the date of their swearing in.

“I am not in this race for personal gains but I have a roadmap to transform our country, improve security, economy and infrastructure to build a better country, where cohesion becomes foundation of our security.

“I am a bridge builder, a unifier.

I have lots of friends all over. My

vision of a new Nigeria, I believe I would earn your support. I pray that I earn your vote but what matters ultimately is to have a better Nigeria.

“I have been having a conversation with el-Rufai, though he said he is tired and wants to go and rest, but the job is unfinished and he is needed to make Nigeria

a better place,” he said.

On his part, the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, described Fayemi as a man of great patience, whom he had known for over 20 years.

El- Rufai said Fayemi granted Kaduna State the iron ore mining license “which enabled us to have

the first indigenous steel plant in 60 years after Ajaokuta, a N10 billion project in Kujeni, Kagarko local government that would be completed later in the year. It is my duty and honour to recommend to you, Dr. John Folorunso Kayode Fayemi, a Presidential aspirant of Nigeria,” he said.

Akeredolu: Our 1999 Constitution Mocks Federalism, Needs Rejigging Fidelis David in Akure Chairman of the Southern Governors' Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday, faulted the 1999 constitution, which puts security on the exclusive list of the federal government as well as the concept of the federating unit being practised in the country.

Akeredolu said the federal government wields too much power, hence, a need to rejig the constitution in such a way that would give power to the states in the country.

In a statement he personally signed, Akeredolu who said the

1999 Constitution, as amended, mocked the federal status of the country, noted that the precarious state of the polity, about security and economy, made it compelling.

"We hold it as self-evident that a federal state must put in place a system of administration, which reflects its heterogeneous character. The Federating units must progress from the semblance of autonomy to the recognition of their unique features, which justify their existence.

“All institutions must emerge as consequences of deliberative engagements designed to accommodate and serve all segments of society. Social services

become seamless and effective, when governance is localised," he said.

Akeredolu added that legislators must consider, very seriously, making laws that would deepen the current democratic experiment.

He stressed that the development pointed to the ostensible potential of a nation-state sincerely desirous of mobilising the citizens for the production of goods and services.

On the growing acceptability of the Amotekun Corps, Akeredolu said the corps pointed at the path to tread in ensuring that collaborative efforts among security agencies yielded maximum

protection for the citizenry.

According to him, "It, therefore, becomes anomalous and suspicious to insist on a central command structure of policing the polity.

We are proud of our modest intervention at a most auspicious moment in the country. We enjoin all patriots to look critically into the issues bordering on the challenges faced by the country as a result of the current system.

"Devolution of powers must be perceived as necessary for the development of the country. There can be no meaningful progress in a system where the Federating units are treated as mere outposts for the central administration."

N'ASSEMBLY PRESSURES BUHARI TO SIGN ACT THAT CHANGES RULES IN MIDDLE OF GAME Presidential elections as enshrined in the said constitution, hence, unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void.

"A declaration that having regard to the clear provision of Section 1(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, read together with Section 4 of the same Constitution, the legislative powers vested in the defendant do not permit or empower it to make any other law prescribing additional qualifying /disqualifying grounds for election to the National Assembly, House of Assembly, Gubernatorial and Presidential election outside the express constitutional qualification and disqualification provisions as already provided in each or all of Sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and without amendment to any of those sections is for reason of inconsistency, unconstitutional and therefore null and void.

"A declaration that Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 disqualifying a political appointee from being a voting delegate or be voted for at a convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election is discriminatory, inconsistent with and in violent breach of the provision of each or all of Sections 42, 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196 of the

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), as well as Article 2 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and some is null and void by reason of its inconsistency.

"A declaration that by the introduction of the provisions of Section 84(12) into the Electoral Act, 2022, but in disregard of Section 84(3) of the some Act, the Defendant has acted ultra vires the legislative powers vested in it under the provision of section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and/ or in violation or breach of the provisions of Sections 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137, 147, 151, 177, 182, 192 and 196, thereby rendering Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 unconstitutional, null and void."

They also prayed for an order nullifying the provisions of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 by application of the blue pencil rule, for being unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and having been made in excess of the legislative powers of the defendant as enshrined in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

House Minority Caucus Urges Buhari to Sign Electoral Act The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign the one item amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 transmitted to him by the National Assembly, last week, to avert imminent political crisis

in the country.

The caucus, in a statement by its leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, said the President’s delay in signing the single amendment to Section 84 (8), has thrown the nation into serious confusion and constituted a huge threat to democracy and the smooth conduct of the 2023 general election.

The lawmakers, therefore, warned that any further delay in signing the amendment to the Electoral Act to give political parties a sense of direction in the conduct of primaries for the election of candidates for the 2023 general election has the capacity to derail the entire democratic process and destabilise the nation.

"As representatives of the people, the Minority Caucus, urges Mr. President to avert an imminent political crisis, which has the capacity of exacerbating the security situation in the country by immediately signing the Amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 and leaving a legacy of a credible electoral process to the nation.

"Our caucus calls on all Nigerians, the Civil Society, the International Community and all lovers of democracy to prevail on President Buhari to immediately sign the amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 and save our nation from an avoidable crisis."

Mark: PDP Will Not Compromise Her Rules

In a related development, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2023 National Convention Organizing Committee, Senator David Mark, has urged party faithful across the country to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship in the conduct of the exercises, promising that the PDP would not compromise her own rules.

In a statement issued ahead of the party primaries, which began with the election of candidates for the state Houses of Assembly seats on Saturday (May 21, 2022), Mark urged party men and women to comply with the rules of the game.

The former senate president between 2007 and 2015, said, “The Party has clear guidelines and rules for the exercises. Every aspirant should be guided by the processes.

The party will not compromise any of the rules.”

He counseled delegates to the congresses and conventions to consider the integrity and past accomplishments of aspirants in order to make informed choices of candidates for the elections.

“In making your decisions, consider the interest of the people.

Politics is a conveyor belt to serve humanity. The greater interest of our people is paramount,” he said.

He, therefore, cautioned against politics of acrimony, bitterness or violence, saying, “see politics like a sporting competition. If you don’t win today, you can win tomorrow “.

45

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWS

DHQ: Troops Vanquish 42 Terrorists, Arrest 20 Others in North-east Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja Defence Headquarters said yesterday that troops killed 42 terrorists and arrested 40 others in the North-east while 32 rifles and 22 machine guns were recovered.

It also disclosed that 1,627 terrorists and their families laid down their arms and surrendered to troops in the past two weeks.

In addition, the military high command also stated that 17 illegal refineries were deactivated even as 778,500 litres of crude oil and 800 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) were recovered from oil bunkerers by troops of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta region.

At a media briefing in Abuja, the Director, Directorate of Defence Media Operations (DDMO), Major Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, said the operations were conducted between April 28 and May 19, 2022.

He said some of the terrorists killed included a spiritual leader and another commander of

terror group, Boko Haram, who were killed during several battles in many villages and towns in Borno State.

“Consequently, during these

operations, troops rescued 63 civilians, neutralised 42 terrorists, arrested 20 terrorists.

“Also, recovered were two LMGS, 21 AK47 rifles, 11 AK

56 rifles, 22 MGs, 419 rounds of 7.62mm and 54mm ammunitions, one gun turret, 31 AK 47 magazines, three motorcycles, six bicycles, one pumping machine,

two bandolier belts containing 377 rounds of 7.62mm and 54mm ammunitions, one Isuzu vehicle”, he said.

Onyeuko added: “Between

1st and 14th of May, 2022, a total of 1,627 Boko Haram terrorists and their families surrendered to own troops at different locations.

WELL DESERVED AWARD…

L-R: Director, Group Strategy and Stakeholder Relations, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), Mr. Sadiq Usman; Head, Corporate Communications, FMN, Mrs.Modupe Thani; Group Director, Treasury and Investor Relations ,Mrs. Chinonye Nzewi, and Director, Special Projects, FMN, Mr. Bola Adeeko,at Nigerian Investor Value Awards (NIVA) in Lagos recently.

ETOPUKUTT

I’ll Drive the Process of Nigeria’s Delta Blames IPOB Menace on FG’s Restructuring, Says Saraki Poor Handling of Nnamdi Kanu’s Case Wole Ayodele in Jalingo

Former Senate President and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Hopeful, Dr. Bukala Saraki, has pledged to drive the process of restructuring Nigeria if he is elected President in 2023.

Addressing Taraba PDP delegates in Jalingo on Wednesday, Saraki stressed that it has become imperative to restructure the country if it must overcome the myriad of challenges bedeviling it.

He stressed that being a former governor and former Senate President, he’s in a better position to galvanise the executive and the legislative arms to enact legislation that would bring about fiscal restructuring, devolution of powers, and revenue allocation.

According to him “issue of restructuring Nigeria has become imperative. We cannot continue to run the country the way it is presently and expect to

develop. Restructuring Nigeria would help to address the challenges facing the country, particularly security, economic and socio-political, “We have to ensure that we enact the right legislation for the creation of state police which is very critical to address the security challenges facing the country as well as bring some of the items on the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent legislative list and alteration of the revenue sharing formula.”

Saraki assured Nigerians that he would leave the office of the President much better than he meets it.

He maintained that the country has gone through so many unusual times and it’s presently at a defining moment and therefore required fresh leadership to turn things around, saying that the country cannot afford to use sentiment to choose leaders for the sake of the memory of those that have lost their lives.

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

The poor manner with which the federal government is handling the case of the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has led to spread of IPOB’s activities.

IPOB extended the enforcement of its sit-at-home order to Asaba and environs on Wednesday where one person was killed and vehicles burnt.

Reacting to the development,

the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the situation would not have degenerated to current levels had the federal government treated the issue of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu well.

Nevertheless, he said that security agencies were on top of the situation, adding that the people shall confidently go about their lawful activities without fear of intimidation despite the unfortunate incident

of Wednesday at Ugbolu on the Illah-Asaba highway.

Aniagwu said: “Let me assure you that security agencies have been put on red alert to ensure that our people go about their business legally and lawfully.

“Nobody is happy about what is happening in the South-East because it is affecting the economy of the South-East; and, so we are appealing to those asking people to stay at home to look for other means of agitating for the release

of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

“We also believe that if the federal government had treated the issue of Nnamdi Kanu well, we wouldn’t have gotten to where we are now.”

Meanwhile, he said the decision of Delta State Government to invest N5.1 billion in the construction of an International Conference Centre in Asaba was part of projects aimed at enhancing the nascent megacity status of the state capital.

Udom Emmanuel: I Have Come to Rescue Nigeria George OkohiInMakurdi

Akwa Ibom State Governor and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that his ambition is to rescue the country from total collapse, adding that his going into the presidential race is not a do or die affair but one borne out of the desire to rescue the country.

Udom stated this when he paid a courtesy visit on Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom in

Makurdi as part of his campaign tour of the state yesterday.

“I felt challenged not for selfish interest but on a very selfless matter.

What is happening today is not insurmountable. We have solutions that we can proffer. Some of them do not even need money. Some need policies and things will just move well and we know the right policies that will bring solutions to some of the issues.

“That is why you see me feeling challenged now and coming in as a party member. And I want to

reassure our party members that my own is not a do or die at all.

“I am in the race like Isaiah and If God wants to partner with me, I will say here I am, send me. If He says I’m not the one, whoever God says that person is, I will join my two hands with my entire family to give that person my support.

“But I want to let you know as my brothers that God is looking for someone to partner to rescue Nigeria. So whether we like it or not, somebody must offer himself and let God be the one to choose.

So that is why you see me taking that bold step out,” he said.

The presidential aspirant said he is going into the race with a track record of sincerity, integrity and love for the country as his motivation to aspire to lead and rescue the country from collapse.

Responding, Governor Ortom, who lamented that Nigeria had never been this down economically, security wise, socially and in every other aspect of life, noted that Udom has the capacity to get the country out of its current situation.

The federal government yesterday urged traditional rulers and religious leaders in Nigeria to join forces with the government in its efforts to reduce the high number of out-of-school children estimated at 10.2 million and myriads of other challenges besetting basic education in the country.

This is just as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)

by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), while also demanding for return of all mission schools in the country to their original owners as a way to arrest the gradual erosion of values and morals in schools.

The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi and Secretary-General of CAN, Mr. Joseph Daramola, spoke in Abuja, at the one-day

National Planning Committee on the 2022 National Personnel Audit (NPA) with religious leaders on the modalities for the conduct of NPA in all basic education institutions in Nigeria. The first phase of the school census exercise would commence on June 6, 2022, in the southern part of the country.

Bobboyi who was represented by the Deputy Executive

Kolawole, in his address, acknowledged the key role being played by traditional rulers and religious leaders in the implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) in the country, urging them to continue to collaborate with the government in addressing the challenge out-of-school children while ensuring quality basic education is delivered to the citizenry.

Flooding: FCTA Demolishes 30 FG Urges Traditional, Religious Leaders to Reduce 10.2m Out-of-School Children Buildings at Trademore Estate Kuni Tyessi in Abuja has called for an end to strike consultative meeting of the Secretary (Services), Dr. Isiaka Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja To mitigate flooding, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday removed over 30 houses affecting the flood plains at Trademore Estate, around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The demolition exercise was carried out by the FCT Minister Taskforce Team led by Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah.

Attah said that the 30 structures demolished were among the over 100 houses marked for demolition at the estate.

He lamented that the estate has always been prone to flooding causing loss of lives and damage to property especially during the rainy season.

“Some developers are fond of carrying out excessive development on the flood plain in Trademore Estate in violation

of building codes and master plan of the FCT. This situation is also very disturbing to the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, who authorised the demolition exercise.

“All the houses that are going down were marked and some have been marked as long as three years ago. Some were marked at foundation level, window level and roofing level.

The final marking was about four days ago. And we gave them 48 hours plus an extended grace of 24 hours,” Attah said.

He added that the FCTA was still engaging the critical stakeholders at the estate on how they can use the Solution Act to resolve the fate of the 70 marked buildings.

He also reiterated the unwillingness of FCTA to pay compensation saying there was neither a building plan nor approval nor allocation on the flood plain.

Imo PDP Primary: INEC Voids Ad Hoc National List, Approves Statutory Delegates Sunday AborisadeinAbuja The Independent National Electoral Commission has ordered the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party to use only statutory delegates for the conduct of all primary elections in the state.

The development has therefore, worsened the crisis rocking the PDP in the state.

INEC had earlier voided the conduct of the three-member

ad hoc delegates election of the party held on 30th April 2022 and a subsequent rescheduled Congress held on 11th May. In the latest twist, the Commission in a letter dated 17th May, 2022 to the National Chairman of PDP, obtained by THISDAY in Abuja yesterday , also voided the one-man delegate election conducted by the party, claiming that there were no original result sheets at any of the congress

venues.

INEC in the letter signed by its acting Secretary, Aminu Idris, thereafter ordered the PDP in Imo State to conduct all primary elections using only Statutory Delegates as provided for in the party’s Constitution.

Reacting to the development, an aspirant for the House of Representatives, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, said INEC decision was a victory for Imo PDP.

He said it was “a commendable rescue from an impending catastrophic end as the party would have used an illegal list of delegates to conduct primary election which would have led to the entire process being voided.”

Ikenga also sympathised with the over 900 ad hoc delegates in the state who had now lost the opportunity to participate in the primaries and vote to choose the candidates of the party.

46

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2022 ˾ T H I S D AY

WORLD OF ISLAM Agbakoba: INEC Must

NEWSEXTRA

Be a Strong Regulator of Electoral Process INEC’s fresh registration hits 9,238,991

Chuks OkochË ÓØ ÌßÔË As the 2023 general election fast approaches, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needs to act as a strong regulator of the electoral process.

Agbakoba said Section 158 (1) of the Constitution provides that INEC in the exercise of its powers, shall not be subject to the direction or control of any authority or person.

In a statement yesterday the

former NBA boss argued that it is important to restate the constitutional powers of INEC as the ultimate regulator of the electoral process “because INEC appears to have forgotten the powers assigned to it in relation to the political and electoral process”.

Agbakoba’s statement came just as INEC has said that the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration now stood at 9,238,991 as of Monday, May 16.

According to Agbakoba, INEC has allowed the National Assembly to encroach on its powers with respect to the electronic transmission of results.

Agbakoba noted that when the National Assembly voted to reject electronic transmission of election results, INEC in the course of the debate, was mostly silent and did not assert itself even when the Constitution confers on it the powers to “organise, undertake and supervise” elections.

“It is important to restate the constitutional powers of INEC as the ultimate regulator of the electoral process. The reminder is necessary because INEC appears to have forgotten the powers assigned to it by the Constitution in relation to the political and electoral process.

APC Has Potential to Develop Nigeria, Says Osinbajo Blessing Ibunge ÓØ ÙÜÞ ËÜÍÙßÜÞ Vice President and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has insisted that his party has the potential to give the country the best, including development.

The VP who stressed the need for continuous unity of the party, expressed confidence that APC will return back to the presidency in 2023.

Osinbajo stated this yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during a meeting with critical stakeholders of the party in continuation of his nationwide consultations ahead of the primaries.

Responding to questions from journalists at the end of the meeting, on the party unresolved crisis in Rivers, Osinbajo said: “I think we have a great party as you know, and what we have done here today is that we have discussed a wide number of issues,

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especially issues that concern our country and the development of our country.

“We also agreed that the party needs to be united so anything that needs to be done is being done and will be done to ensure the unity of the party.

“Our party is obviously as

you know not just the ruling party but the party that has the greatest potential to do the best for this country. So, every little problem that we have we are going to resolve it because we have the capacity and the maturity to resolve all of those conflicts and problems”.

Security Operatives Raid Kidnappers’ Hideout, Rescue Two Victims in A’Ibom Okon Bassey in Uyo A combined team of security operatives has raided kidnappers’ hideout in Akwa Ibom State where a notorious kingpin and gang leader, Otobong Moses (alias Otoabasi), was neutralised while kidnapped victims were rescued.

The team of the security forces that embarked on the raid comprised troops of 2 Brigade of Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as other security agencies.

The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade, Capt.

Samuel Akari, disclosed this to journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, after the raid in Obon Ebot in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state.

According to Akari, during the invasion of the area, the troops arrested three of the accomplices and rescued two kidnapped victims.

He listed items recovered in the raid to include one submachine gun and magazine; 67 rounds of 9mm ammunition; two motorcycles, 16 mobile phones,

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This is to notify the general public that my names was misarranged as IHEANACHO SHADRACH NJOKU on my bank BVN instead of SHADRACH IHEANACHO NJOKU. Henceforth,I wish to be known and addressed as SHADRACH IHEANACHO NJOKU. All documents remain valid. The general public, banks and other institutions should take note.

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one AK-47 rifle magazine with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and nine machetes.

Other items recovered were two military monkey jackets; one helmet strapped with military camouflage uniform; two pairs of military camouflage uniform; one military police beret; one police camouflage face cap; one military pull over; ATM card; two television sets; a standing fan; decoder, and four power generator.

According to Akari, “In line with operational directives of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Akwa Ibom State Government, troops of 2

Hero Lager Receives Award for Impact on Traders Hero Lager’s Igba Boi has continued to receive accolades from traders through its cultural and altruistic brand popularly called ‘O’Mpa’, for its impactful corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, ‘Igba Boi’.

The brand was recently honoured at the All-Markets Conference 2022 organised by Ndigboamaka, the umbrella body for 58 Major Market Associations and Igbo Professional Groups in Lagos at Festival Hotels, AmuwoOdofin.

The management stated that ‘Igba Boi’ provides support to young entrepreneurs who just graduated after acquiring skills from their trade masters.

It noted that Hero Lager Igba Boi and provided these budding entrepreneurs with business skills training, mentorship from established professionals, and grants money to startup their business lives as future employers.

The event had notable entrepreneurs such as the keynote Speaker, Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, High-Chief Obiora Okonkwo; Guest of Honour, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, CEO of Chisco Group of Companies, among others.

Edited by: MJO Mustapha Email deji.mustapha@thisdaylive.com

Hajj for Human Dignity and Unity By: Aslam Abdullah/IslamiCity

A

bu Uthman al-Sabani al-Shafii (d 449) in his book Kitab ul Maitain narrates Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as saying, “towards the end of the time, four main groups of people will flock around the Kaaba to perform Hajj: The powerful rulers to have fun or to enjoy the occasion, the rich people to promote their businesses, the poor to seek financial support and the reciters (or scholars) to demonstrate their skills.”

Al-Sabuni was not an ordinary scholar.

He narrated the Hadith after ensuring that the matan or text and isnad or chains are sound. He once said “I never narrated a Hadith nor a non-Prophetic report in a gathering except if I possessed its chain of transmission; nor did I ever enter the library except in a state of ritual purity; nor did I ever narrate Hadith, nor hold a gathering, nor teach, except in a state of ritual purity.”

Are we living in that period that was predicted by the Prophet? Has Hajj really become a type of ritual devoid of any meaning? Is Hajj an individual ibada (worship) that requires a believer to spend time and resources to get closer to an omni-potent and omni-present God? Has the Hajj become a business in our times? Or has it become a vacation?

There was a time when people would spend months and months preparing themselves financially and spiritually to live the real meaning of Hajj. However now a days Hajj is offered as a holiday package.

Many Hajj agencies all over the world offer value packages with super programs, deluxe programs and short executive program.

These programs offer the best and closest accommodation in Makkah and Medinah, best available food and best possible position in the House of Allah. Depending how much you pay, you can get the finest place in Makkah and Medinah. If you happen to be the guest of royalty, then probably, no one can ever compete with your placement in the two mosques. When the Prophet performed his only Hajj, the only provision that he had with him was no more than four dirham as narrated in several books of ahadith.

Hajj was meant to teach the pilgrims endurance and perseverance for higher causes, yet it has been turned into an exercise in convenience. Hajj was meant to express the utmost humility in the presence of the rest of humanity by declaring that “Here I am, Here I am, I will not make anyone Allah’s partner. Allah is the one who is in control of everything and He alone is the one who is the source of all blessings and praise.” Yet, today, Hajj, for many has become, a badge, a symbol of spiritual arrogance.

Hajj is an institution that is supposed to reassure the people that ethnic, cultural, linguistic, geographical, wealth-based, race and color differences that humans have imposed upon themselves have no reality in the presence of God. All are one and the purpose of all is to follow the divine guidance to create a universal humanity to the wellbeing of everyone. Hajj is meant to be a pledge to live example of Hajj beyond the Hajj. It is an occasion to create a personality without a dimension and space.

Yet, through social engineering and manipulation of resources, Hajj is rapidly adapting social elements that distinguish the rich from the poor, the very institution that it is supposed to demolish. Divisions among Hujjaj on the basis of their ethnicity and money are visible throughout the Hajj journey.

While the hujjaj coming from poorer regions of the world may find accommodation miles away from the Haram, those who are rich can find accommodation within the vicinity of the Kaaba.

The Quran describes Kaaba as a center of guidance to humanity. “Indeed the first House of Worship open to all was established in the Noble Makkah. Indeed this House is the center of guidance to all humanity.” (Q3:96)

The place was not only a place for bringing together all the people but it is a center for promoting peace. (Q2:145). It was a place that was meant to help humanity realize its universality rather than divisions (Q5:97) For this great purpose of helping humanity realize its dream of removing all the differences and divisions among themselves the institution Hajj come up with the clear example of making us understand and observe that unity of humanity is possible. For this the Quran asked Prophet Ibrahim(AS) to invite people to Hajj, so that they may witness the beauty and magnificence of the guidance of Allah.

Hajj is like a united nations in its real sense without five elitist powers. With no hidden agenda and security council privileges, each nation and community come to Makkah with the single purpose of serving God and reiterating their covenant with Him. Hajj provides the opportunity to everyone to witness the common bonds among people regardless of their differences. Hajj promotes the idea of dignity of human beings, male or female, young or old and rich and poor.

Hajj also creates space for intellectual ideas among people so that they could all remain focused on their main agenda of serving humanity through following the guidance of God. It is this spirit of Hajj that was prevalent at the time of the Prophet and his trusted companions. It is this spirit of Hajj that is now being challenged by the modern business-dominated society and hierarchy of rich and poor culture. However, among all this razzmatazz, still there are people who come to the Hajj to take the inspiration to transform themselves for a better future both for them and for others. They are the ones who do not care about big hotels or better facilities. They are the ones who spend their days and nights in Mina, Arafat, Muzdalfa, Makkah and Medina. Here they remember the covenant that Allah made with Prophet Abraham (AS), the builder of Kaaba. Prophet Abraham (AS) was told by God, Almighty, “I am making you the source of balance and inspiration (The Quran uses the word Imam, that literally means the instrument that a construction worker uses to level the construction) for all people,” (Q2:124).

Encouraged by this honor, the Prophet asked: “Is this covenant for my progeny too,” No” said Allah, “Those who deviate from my path would not qualify for this honor,” (Q2:124) In these simple words thus was described the real intent and purpose of the Hajj and all other faith-based institutions. The dignity and honor do not come with buying this or that package. It comes through dedication and commitment to the divine values and living up to them.

Someday, the Hajj will be restored to its original intent by those un-known and un-recognized faces who come from all over the world quietly without any fanfare and who spend every moment of their presence in the noble sanctuaries and the pilgrimage path with the determination to follow their real leaders: Prophets Ibrahim, Prophet Ismail and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon them, in every aspect of this great institution.

The re-enactment of acts performed during the Hajj are attributed to Prophets Ibrahim and Ismal and Mother Hagar. They are primarily meant for the purpose of reminding the humanity that in order to bring people together, God’s guidance is received, acknowledged, accepted and followed by a small group of people who may not be present physically to see the fruits of their efforts. Prophet Ibrahim (AS) created that nucleus for perpetual change in human behavior and for that he was honored by God who declared him as an Imam (role model) for humanity. The guidance that inspired Prophet Ibrahim (AS) to put the dream of one people under God in reality is there in its most clear, puritan, crystal form in the Quran.

How ironic it is that despite the guidance, many remain misguided including those who claim to have understood and mastered the divine guidance.

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Osimhen Doubtful for Napoli's Serie A Last Game, Misses Training Napoli Manager Luciano Spalletti is sweating over the fitness of Victor Osimhen before his side's final league game of the season against Spezia.

Napoli players were back at the Konami Training Centre yesterday morning, before the trip to Liguria, but the Nigeria international was missing from the session.

The team later announced on their official website that

Osimhen didn't train as he was feeling unwell.

The 23-year-old Super Eagles forward trained in the gym on Wednesday, while majority of his teammates were involved in outdoor training games and possession drills.

He spent approximately two months on the sidelines after sustaining fractures to his cheekbone during the Serie A clash

against Inter Milan on November 21 - an injury that contributed to him pulling out of Nigeria's roster for the 2021 Africa Cup of

Nations in Cameroon.

Osimhen has bagged nine goals in fifteen appearances in the top-flight since returning

to action against Bologna on January 17.

The tie against Spezia is a dead rubber clash, given that Napoli

have already qualified for next season's UEFA Champions League and will finish in third position win or lose on Sunday.

Great Escape for Everton After Comeback Win Against Cry’ Palace Alex Iwobi, teammates, fans in rancorous celebration at Goodison Park Everton secured their Premier League status with an incredible fightback where they came from two goals down to beat Crystal Palace 3-2.

The hosts, who will continue their 68-year stay in the top flight, looked like they were heading for defeat after Palace scored twice in the first half through Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jordan Ayew.

But conjuring up a fighter's spirit once more and spurred on by they vociferous support, Everton turned the game around in the second half, thanks to a more attacking approach.

With his side two goals down, Nigerian international Alex Iwobi returned to his traditional role in the midfield rather than the right wingback he has played in a couple of their last games.

Nine minutes after the break Michael Keane smashed in to give Frank Lampard's side hope, and when Richarlison found the bottom corner with a miscued shot with 15 minutes left, it sent Goodison Park into raptures as

RESULTS Everton 3-2 Cry’Palace Chelsea 1-1 Leicester Aston Villa 1-1 Burnley a precious point looked likely.

Yet the best was to come with five minutes left. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored his first goal since August against Brentford last Sunday during an injury-hit season, sparked pandemonium with a diving header from Demarai Gray's free-kick.

The excitement of Iwobi and his teammates boiled over as fans descended on the pitch to celebrate, with blue mist shrouding the stadium as smoke flares were let off.

The crucial result avoided the kind of final-day nerves that Everton fans had to experience in 1998 and 1994, where the team also preserved their Premier League status.

Flying Eagles, Benin Squirrels in Regional Supremacy Battle Nigeria and neighbours Benin Republic, both already qualified for the 17th Africa U20 Cup of Nations Egypt 2023, will slug it out today to determine which of the two teams is the best U20 squad in the West African Football Union B zone.

Like Nigeria, Benin Republic emerged winners of their pool in the group phase, above second –placed Cote d’Ivoire, and then defeated Burkina Faso, second –placed team in Group B, 2-1 in the first semi finals match on Wednesday.

Seven –time African champions Nigeria also defeated Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 after extra time in a tense and turgid affair at the Stade General Seyni Kountché, the

Everton fans on the pitch celebrating their great escape from relegation after coming back from two goals down to win 3-2 at PHOTO: Reuters the Goodison Park...last night

winner coming from the penalty spot 21 minutes into extra time after both teams were locked at 1-1following regulation time.

Friday’s encounter will confer bragging rights on the winning side and immense confidence going into next year’s continental finals, and Coach Ladan Bosso said on Thursday that his boys are ready to go all out for the trophy.

“We are happy to have the AFCON ticket under our belts now, but we want more. The Cup is now within reach and we will go all out for it. We want to be WAFU B champions. That will give us tremendous boost going into the African championship next year.”

Bayelsa’s Gift Painting Benin City Blue with Goals Amene questions why she’s left out of WAFCON bound Super Falcons Duro Ikhazuagbe Monday Gift scored a brace yesterday as Bayelsa Queens defeated Edo Queens 2-1 at the ongoing Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Super Six in Benin City.

Gift who now have six goals from three games on Tuesday recorded the first hat trick of the tournament against Naija Ratels . She banged in Bayelsa’s lone goal against Rivers Angels in their opening game of the tournament.

Bayelsa Queens now have maximum nine points from three games.

A board member of the NWFL and General Co-ordinator of the NWFL Nationwide League, Mr. Joe Amene, describes the heroics of Gift against Edo Queens, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Lagos as refreshing difference and unexplainable that she is not in the Super Falcons squad for the Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

"Monday Gift is the only Nigeria Women Football League player who is in top form and merits the Falcons first team invitation.

"At the last edition of Aisha Buhari Cup in Lagos, last year, Gift Monday was one of the two home players that scored the two

RESULTS Nasarawa 1-0 Delta Queens Rivers Angels 2- 0 Naija Ratels Edo Queens 1-2 Bayelsa Queen

NWFL SUPER SIX goals recorded by Nigeria,” recalled Amene.

After the Super Six, Gift went on loan to Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt to assist the team in their CAF Women Champions League campaign. Soon after this, Gift returned to her parent club, FC Robo of Lagos and played at the Betsy Obaseki Women's Football Challenge, in Benin City, where she scored nine of the total 12 goals scored by her team.

Surprisingly, she was left out of the Coach Randy Waldrum’s 32-man list of players for two-week training camp ahead of the WAFCON. In other games of the Match-day 3 of the ongoing NWFL Super at the University of Benin sports complex Ugbowo, Nasarawa Amazons defeated Delta Queens by a lone goal. Amazons now have maximum six points from two matches. Rivers Angels defeated Naija Ratels 2-0.

accomplishments in the talent and brand management industry.

While confirming the new working relationship with Mikel, the CEO and Founder of Avianna & Harvey Entertainments, Ahmed Fadekemi, described it as a union of like minds.

She said, “We are very delighted with the addition of Mikel Obi into the ever-expanding Avianna &

Harvey Entertainments family. For us, this is another testimony that we are doing great work and we will continue to do more; projecting our clients in the best light” Mikel remains one of Africa's most decorated and highly respected players with a long list of accomplishments for both club and country.

Since starting out his career with

Monday Gift scored a brace yesterday as Bayelsa Queens defeated Edo Queens 2-1 at the ongoing NWFL Super Six in Benin City. Gift also scored the first hat trick of the tournament against Naija Ratels on Tuesday. She had earlier scored a goal against Rivers Angels in Bayelsa’s opening game

MaryLove, Oyinlomo in CBN Tennis S’final Face-off Top seed at the on-going 44th edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria Senior Tennis Championship, MaryLove Edwards, saw off the challenge of Blessing Samuel with a 6-3, 6-1 victory to advance to the semi-finals.

Also, the defending champion,

Avianna & Harvey Announces Signing John Mikel Obi One of the country’s most reputable talent management consulting and talent booking agencies, Avianna & Harvey Entertainments has announced the signing of John Mikel Obi. The Chelsea legend effectively becomes the latest addition to the list of celebrities being managed by Avianna & Harvey Entertainments who have a long history of

PEERLESS GIFT...

Jos-based club Plateau United before joining Norwegian club Lyn Oslo at the age of 17 in 2004, Mikel has never looked back as he continued to grow in leaps and bounds In 2006, he signed with English club, Chelsea and has since gone on to play for other foreign clubs such as Tianjin TEDA, Trabzonspor and Stoke City.

Oyinlomo Quadre defeated Rebecca Ekpeyong 6-0, 6-0 to also qualify for the last four to face MaryLove.

Women number 2 seed, Aanu Aiyegbusi stopped Toyin Asogba 6-2, 6-3, while Oiza .Yakubu ran home with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 victory over Stella Udokwelu after dropping the second set.

In the men’s category holding at the Package 'B' of the Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja, Number 3 seed, Igbinovia Wilson, yesterday stopped Iloputa Ikechukwu 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in a hard fought quarter -final battle to sail into today's semi-finals while top seed and the man to beat, Henry Atseye also confirmed his place in the semi-final by beating Gabriel Friday, 6-0, 6-0.

Also in the semi-finals is seed

4, Nonso Madueke who defeated Timipre Godgift, 6-3, 6-2 , while Abayomi Philip came from a set down to beat Adehi Oche, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4.

According to today's semi-finals pairings, Henry Atseye will lock horns with Igbinovia Wilson while Nonso Madueke takes on Philip Abayomi for a place in the final.

Meanwhile, actions were also recorded in the wheelchair men and women's singles categories.

Alex Adewale beat Bankole Rasaq, 6-0, 6-3 while Akanbi Kazeem, stopped Wale Favour, 30 Rtd. Omisore Kafayat had a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ade as Sodeinde Folake beat Yahaya Asumi, 6-0, 6-0 to get to today's semi-finals.

The grand finale holds tomorrow at same venue.

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MISSILE Mallam Kazaure to North “To replace Buhari with another Northerner as candidate of the party (APC) is to effectively affirm the fears and portray the Southern extraction as political fools.

Such a candidate in that circumstance would be impossible to sell beyond the North.

Furthermore, if the PDP does recycle Atiku Abubakar, a tired warhorse, the fallout would throw the party in disarray…” –President of Arewa Political Forum of Nigeria, Abdulsalam Kazaure, berating the APC all-Northern agenda.

PATUTOMI Light Over Darkness on the Road to 2023 GUEST COLUMNIST

T

he things you become are not always those things you imagined you would be.

Usually, it brings regret that you are what you had not given thought to. For the occasional characterization of me as an educator of exception, it is a happy unexpected.

But it also places a unique burden on me to seek a redemptive intervention that will liberate education in Nigeria and cause it to drive a robust vision of a land of free and happy people producing their way up to the world’s highest standards of living from a base as low as the poverty capital of the world at the time of this audacious claim of a new future heritage.

I come to a construction of an education strategy for the great surge forward for Nigeria mindful of the great paradox of both my own track in getting education and my view of educators, as well as my becoming recognized as an educator of note.

For a person who as a teenager was so fascinated with flying and only wanted to go to flying school to be a pilot ending up post youth corps Ph.d at 26 and being associated with the founding and running of schools at primary, secondary, and Tertiary levels is surely a dramatic switch of fortunes. Lessons from such a run should do a thing or two for a return on experience (ROE) that can impact policy for good.

Surely that turn of the tide has allowed deep insights into the challenge of reforming education in Nigeria.

Through the years in helping found primary schools in elite urban areas in Lagos (Madonna International in Ikoyi, Lagos and St Monica’s school for the opportunity challenged in Ibusa, Delta state); Secondary Schools as Vice Chairman of the Development Board of Lagoon secondary school and as startup faculty at the Lagos Business School and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of both a state Government and Private University in Edo State and the Governing Board on Development of Shanahan University Onitsha all of these experiences point me in one direction. Education works best when it is purpose driven.

When Deng Xiao Ping took the reigns of leadership in poor backward China at the time I was a Youth Corper and China’s output person was half that of Nigeria, few would have imagined the difference in performance and quality of life we see today.

The key to the bold new future envisioned by Deng was knowledge and the path to it was education strategy. In several speeches in 1978 capped by the speech at the Communist Party Congress in December of that year he extolled the place of people

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

of intellect and knowledge in the new way forward for China. Today we can see the result in one generation.

At the other end of the pacific examples can be found. Why is California one of the largest economies in the world and a few of its entrepreneurs possess more capital than the entire continent of Africa?

Largely the effect of a University called Stanford. Education matters. But you would not believe it if you look at how governments in Nigeria have treated education these last 20 years.

Much has been made of the conversation between Apple’s Steve Jobs and then US President Barrack Obama about why the iPhone was built in China. Faced with a deadline that was looking like a mission impossible in the US, Apple turned to China and found that in a small area there was an abundance of software engineers of world class at a small fraction of the cost of equally qualified Americans whose supply were not

available enough.

Economists and Historians may be close on consensus in the current dominant paradigm about institutions and institutional failure being the reason China went to sleep for several centuries but there is no discounting the place of education in the Deng Xiaoping Vision that enabled China leapfrog to the frontlines of greatness in just one generation.

The British Historian Niall Ferguson may be triumphalist in how institutions failed China in the Ming dynasty but he has to admit how quickly they found through education some of the killer Apps of Westetn power.

We cannot, therefore, consider the revival of Nigeria without a bold vision for education strategy which is recently in taters, utter neglect and manned by people who should be doing other things.

Nobody considering running for President who cannot show audacity in this area is even worthy of being allowed to buy the form to register.

The Pillars of Reform To reform education, we have to begin with a common acceptance that education must be purpose driven and that the principle of subsidiarity, decentralization to the levels of authority closest to the people is key.

It is important we also align learning to factor endowments of geographies.

So if a person is domiciled in a cocoaproducing region education curriculum from primary school should equip that person to add value in the Cocoa value chain from cradle times. Emphasis on STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) in our education has been observed in the breach, as has the call for more attention to vocational education and a TIVET focus. Then there is the issue of teacher quality.

What can we, learn from Finland and the Scandinavian countries?

I have had the privilege of being Chairman of the Nigerian Breweries

To reform education, we have to begin with a common acceptance that education must be purpose driven and that the principle of subsidiarity, decentralization to the levels of authority closest to the people is key

sponsored Maltina National Teacher of the year panel of judges for eight years now. Its essence is to celebrate good teachers and inspire the rise of good teachers.

We must develop a national framework for implementing a Teacher Development scheme and I have been working on it for years.

I also think there is a place in policy for how to manage low cost private schools in slum areas. Those are the places many of our urban young are getting started. Government officials still treat them with poor understanding. I have visited these schools with the British Educator James Tooley, now Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham in the UK. At his prodding new vistas were opened to me and I am pleased to be National patron of AFED, their association.

I have also spoken over the years about priorities. The obsession in public conversation with tertiary education because of its glamour misses the point that primary education and secondary education are more important in that order, first because if you get it wrong at that level only garbage will enter the tertiary level and the outcome will be garbage. But more importantly if the learning at these best formation years for the brain if life skills are transmitted can carry to a successful life without tertiary formal education it is worthwhile investment.

Then there is the matter of preferred pedagogy. As those who have followed me know I was long influenced by the writings of the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire who authored the Pedagogy of the Oppressed. My adapted vision of his thesis which I call the Pedagogy of the Determined is fundamentally developmental and high growth supporting.

With my friends, we will offer Nigeria education driven for purpose to support an audacious developmental agenda based on a dual education track like the German ausbildung but anchored on the value chain-propping Latent Comparative Advantage anchor of high growth to improve the quality of life of citizens.

I come to this as a simple teacher with audacious vision for Nigeria that is filled with compassion for people who have suffered for too long from bad leadership. I come in trust that Nigeria will rise up again and that this rise will be fueled by good teachers and a strategy made good by experience.

•Patrick Okedinachi Utomi, Political Economist and Professor at the Lagos Business School is Pro-Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University

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